A BUILDER told how he started to grow his own cannabis because he did not want to be exploited by street dealers.

Robert Tomkins, 38, was given a four-month jail sentence, suspended for six months when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

Police searched Tomkins’ home, in New Century Road, Laindon, last September and found 88 cannabis plants in a bedroom, loft and garden.

He had been growing many of the plants using specialist equipment, which was also found at the home.

The court heard Tomkins ran a building business before the recession hit the construction industry, and he had now fallen into debt.

After being arrested, he confessed to growing the plants.

Ian Elkins, prosecuting, said: “He made full admissions to growing the cannabis plants.

“He commented the cannabis plants growing in the garden had been put there to see if they would flourish outside and they had.

“Mr Tomkins said the reason for growing the cannabis for his own use was he didn’t want to be exploited by dealers.”

Of the 88 plants, there were 29 large plants, 47 medium sized plants and 12 small plants, but the plants were too mature for officers to estimate how much cannabis could have been produced.

Tomkins pleaded guilty to producing a Class B drug at an earlier hearing on April 29.

Nicholas Marney, representing Tomkins, said in mitigation he had no previous record of offences and was again finding occasional part-time work in the building trade.

He said: “He is a family man with a partner and children, and he was a successful businessman.”

Judge Christopher Mitchell ordered Tomkins to carry out 80 hours unpaid work on top of the suspended sentence.