A CANNABIS user told his estate agents he was in a Cornish hospital... as he illegally grew 60 plants in his flat.

Jay Hunt was arrested after police forced their way into his flat, despite initially assuring the company that owned it that he wasn’t there.

The 44-year-old of Roots Hall Drive, Southend, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard that Hunt had started renting the property in December 2017 and began to get into issues paying the bills.

Hunt kept telling the firm he was not available and in a hospital in Cornwall.

On September 19, 2018, a worker of the firm went to the flat along with a locksmith, but could not get in because the door was being held shut.

Noises could be heard from within and suspicions arose that it was someone else in the flat who was not Hunt.

Police were called and forced their way in where they found Hunt, and approximately 60 adult cannabis plants.

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Further examinations of the property by UK Power Networks after Hunt’s arrest found that he had taken approximately £2,260 worth of electricity without paying for it.

Representing himself at court yesterday, Hunt said he had been growing the cannabis for his own personal use and that he had been growing a year’s supply in one go. He added: “I would just like to apologise for being so stupid, I know it was wrong.”

Hunt was charged a year after the incident, which happened in south Essex.

Judge Samantha Cohen said: “I am satisfied this is cannabis you were growing for yourself to deal with chronic back pain.” Hunt received a suspended four months prison sentence.