A 39-YEAR-OLD Kingswinford man who grew cannabis with a street value of £6,750 in his home for medicinal purposes has avoided jail.

Haze Williams was rumbled when neighbours complained about the smell of the controlled drug and after his arrest he told police he was cultivating it to ease his panic attacks, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The painter and decorator, of Wartell Bank, also revealed to officers that cannabis helped him to get a good night's sleep, the court was told.

Recorder David Crigman QC told Williams it was clear he had gone to some expense to set up a sophisticated cannabis growing operation.

But he stressed there was no suggestion that Williams had decided to cultivate the drug for a financial motive as he gave him a 12-week jail term suspended for a year.

He further ordered Williams, who admitted producing cannabis, to carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community and to pay £420 costs.

Rhiannon Jones, prosecuting, said when police searched Williams' home they found 15 mature cannabis plants together with heating and lighting equipment to bring on the crop.

The equipment cost him around £300, added Miss Jones. Police also found a book entitled Marijuana Horticulture but there was no evidence of supply.

Williams, who was the subject of a Community Order at the time for supplying steroids to his brother while he was in prison, told police the cannabis was all for his personal use to ease his problems.

Martin Keys, defending, said Williams was currently receiving treatment for a blood disorder.