A MAN claimed £15,000 worth of cannabis found at his home was for his own use – but a judge didn't believe him.

Ben Rawes, 23, had appeared at Burnley Crown Court for sentence, after police were said to have found the ‘commercial cannabis factory’ when they raided his home in a quiet Padiham street.

Burnley Magistrates had earlier been told how the defendant had set up the ‘sophisticated’ operation with lighting, fans, thermometers, transformers, feed and drying nets.

Rawes, who was growing almost 40 plants and had by-passed the electricity meter, also had a CS gas cannister on his mantelpiece.

The defendant, of Canning Street, Padiham, had admitted producing cannabis, abstracting electricity and possessing a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid/gas.

His case was adjourned at the higher court for a trial over the facts.

Judge Simon Newell said he found it difficult to accept, and so did the prosecution, that 829 grams of cannabis would have been used solely by the defendant in a relatively short period of time and the inference was that it could be retailed.

Rawes was given unconditional bail until August 13.

Police found a ‘commercial cannabis factory’ which had 37 medium plants growing in a front bedroom.

The defendant told police the drugs were for his own use.

The court was told police would say the potential yield of the plants was drugs with a street value of about £15,000.

Police wanted to see if the defendant had benefitted financially from the factory.

Jeremy Coleman, for Rawes, said he had been growing a small quantity of plants and he had been quite open with the police.