AN Army veteran who was lured into allowing his home to be used as a large scale cannabis farm with the promise of £10,000 cash has been locked up for two years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Daniel Greenslade's personality had changed after he suffered a head injury while boxing for the Army.

He had served his country in Germany, Bosnia and Northern Ireland but by the time of the offence in January this year he was in severe debt and frequently could not even afford to use his electricity supply.

He was approached to allow his home to be used for a cannabis farm and he agreed and also helped tend the plants.

He had not known that those involved had by-passed the meter until he realised that he now had electricity again, said Frank Dillon, defending.

"He had been promised £10,000 and as he was in severe debt he accepted that offer."

He said that Greenslade had had council tax and mortgage debts and re-possession proceedings have since been commenced.

He had suffered from alcohol dependency and depression but has since taken steps to address those issues and after a trial working with a tree surgeon has the offer of a job.

Rob Jones, prosecuting, said that police raided Greenslade's home mid-morning on January 17 and found him in bed.

The premises were found to contain three cannabis growing rooms with 147 plants producing crops with a potential yield of almost six kilos and an estimated street value of £117,000.

Greenslade, of Berrylands Road, Moreton, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and abstracting electricity.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, told him: "I sentence you on the basis the operation was owned by others and they had asked to ultilise your house for such an operation and you were to receive £10,000.

"You were playing a significant role in that operation by allowing your premises to be used and on occasions feeding and watering those plants."

The judge added that he had read a psychiatric report about the consequences of his army service and the head injury he sustained while boxing.

But he added: "The offences are so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence is justified."