AN unemployed man who tried to earn some money by growing cannabis in his cellar has been jailed for 18 months.

Richard Carter, who did not use drugs himself, recruited others to help him set up the well-organised cannabis factory at his home in Robinson Street, Huddersfield.

The 27-year-old’s illegal activity came to light when he was questioned by police about an unrelated matter and a search of his home uncovered the cannabis-growing operation.

Prosecutor Ewan McLachlan said when officers visited the house in May last year they found the cellar equipped with high-powered lighting, fans, transformers and ventilation ducting.

Carter was also said to have arranged for an electrician to tamper with the electricity supply.

The court heard that Carter’s first crop of six or seven plants failed, but by the time the police arrived a second crop of 16 plants were about six weeks away from flowering.

Mr McLachlan estimated that each plant could have produced about 40 grammes of cannabis.

Carter admitted a charge of producing cannabis and told officers frankly that he was desperate for money.

Mr McLachlan said: “He said he intended to sell the drug once the flowers had grown.”

He added the guideline sentence for someone growing cannabis for profit was between three and six years after a trial.

Carter lost his previous job through problems with his drinking, but his lawyer Mark Brookes told Recorder Julian Smith that his client had gained new employment working at a Leeds restaurant.

Mr Brookes said Carter was candid about what he planned to do and the idea to grow cannabis had been put to him by others.

He said Carter had no previous dealings with the police or the courts and a prison sentence would be a harsh experience for him.

Recorder Smith told Carter, now of Newsome Road, Huddersfield, that he had made a calculated decision at a time when he was out of work and short of money.

The judge said Carter had engaged in a criminal enterprise for entirely commercial purposes.

“Your intention was to sell that cannabis when matured and make a profit out of it”, said Recorder Smith.

The judge said he had taken account of Carter’s guilty plea, his honesty throughout case and his previous good character in reducing the jail term to 18 months.