A ROAD accident victim from Bacup who claimed he was growing cannabis to ease the pain of surgery has walked free.

Bradley Navaratnam, 23, of Fairview Road, admitted growing cannabis which could provide a yield of nearly £12,000.

But at an earlier hearing his lawyers claimed the 29 plants, discovered by police at his Rossendale home, were for his own personal use.

Rick Holland, defending, said his client admitted using cannabis since the age of 13.

But he had been in a serious motorcycle accident, had undergone surgery and had been using the drug to cope with the aftermath.

Navaratnam, who also admitted abstracting electricity, was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Passing sentence, the judge said any breaches of the suspended order would be dealt with by him in future.