A cannabis farm was discovered at a house in Huddersfield after the fire brigade were called to a blaze at the property.

Leeds Crown Court heard the bedrooms and bathroom at the address in New Hey Road, Salendine Nook, suffered fire and smoke damage on October 25 last year.

Former soldier Steven Farnan admitted he had been growing the cannabis to pay off rent arrears.

Alisha Kaye prosecuting said officers found there were two mature plants in one bedroom along with 25 cuttings, in a second bedroom were another eight plants and in a third there were two plants and six cuttings. They also discovered 67 cuttings in a propagator in the cellar. The plants could have produced a yield worth around £6,000.

When Farnan was interviewed he said somebody had set the production up for him and by-passed the electricity supply. He was growing for his own use but might have sold some.

Cannabis factories found in Huddersfield below

The court heard he had told a probation officer he began using cannabis about a month before he had left the army after six years in the service.

That had included two tours in Northern Ireland where as a section medic he had seen friends die. Although he was now self-employed as a removal and haulage operator he would still use it in the evenings to calm him and help him sleep.

He told the court: “I just want to apologise, I have never been in trouble before I just took the easy option and I would like to apologise to the court.”

Farnan, 44 recently of Cambridge Road, Highfields, Huddersfield admitted producing cannabis and was given a four month prison sentenced suspended for 12 months with a 15 day activity requirement and 100 hours unpaid work.