A MAN who has been hooked on the drug for 30 years began to grow it in his York home to feed his habit, a court heard.

Police raided Paul Clarkson’s home on Gladstone Street, Acomb, on August 14 last year, and discovered nine cannabis plants and specialist lighting equipment.

The plants could have yielded 300 grams of cannabis once dried, York Crown Court heard yesterday.

The 50-year-old, now of Lindsey Avenue, said he had been using the drug since he was aged about 20 and had bought a £250 set to grow his own plants after being made redundant last year.

He needed a regular flow of the drug to feed his £15-a-day habit and thought it would be a cheaper option than buying the cannabis, he told the court.

Glen Parson, mitigating, said Clarkson had a “deep- seated cannabis addiction”.

He said Clarkson had now found new employment as a labourer in the city and wanted to turn his life around.

Clarkson, who has a previous conviction for cannabis cultivation from 2010, pleaded guilty to production of cannabis at an earlier hearing.

The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, said he was satisfied that Clarkson had been growing the drug for his personal use and not for supply.

Sentencing Clarkson, he said: “This was a very stupid decision. Do it again and you will find yourself in much more trouble.”

Clarkson was fined £750, ordered to pay £250 prosecution cost and £15 victim surcharge.