Next door neighbours prosecuted for growing cannabis in adjoining lofts in Leeds street

Police made the discovery when they executed a search warrant at Glynn Turpin's home on Brooklands Close, Seacroft.

Leeds Crown Court heard there were other people in Turpin's home when police went to the property on February 2 last year.

Turpin told the officers: "You must know this is nothing to do with them. This is all mine."

The officers asked the father-of-four if he was referring to a cannabis farm and he replied: "Yes."

Turpin showed the officers to a loft accessed by step ladders, where they found 10 plants growing.

A further 36 plants were hanging up to dry.

Paul Nicholson, prosecuting, said: "When the defendant was interviewed he said he was in debt and travellers had threatened to smash his legs in and threatened him with a gun.

"They said if he did it, it would clear his debt."

Mr Nicholson said Turpin's next door neighbour, Jason Wood, had also been prosecuted for producing cannabis in his loft at the same time.

Wood has already been dealt with by the court, receiving a suspended prison sentence.

The prosecutor added: "It would seem that plants were growing in the loft of both premises and access could be gained from both sides."

Turpin pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.

The court heard he was given a six-month suspended sentence for cannabis production just eight weeks before being arrested for his latest offence.

Ashleigh Metcalfe, mitigating, said Turpin had suffered spinal injuries when a kitchen cupboard fell on top of him in 2017.

Miss Metcalfe said her client began using cannabis for pain relief and had got into debt to the man who supplied him with the class B drug.

The court heard Turpin was then threatened and ordered to pay off the debt or grow cannabis to clear it.

Miss Metcalfe said Turpin had now moved away from Leeds with his partner.

She added that police or Crown Prosecution Service delays had led to Turpin not being sentenced for the offence alongside his earlier cannabis growing offence.

The barrister added: "He could easily have been sentenced for all matters together."

Turpin was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar said: "I have come to the conclusion, given your disability and the health issues referred to, I'm going to give you one more chance."