A WIRRAL man caught growing cannabis in his home walked free from court today - because he has terminal cancer.

Nicholas Jones was told by a judge at Liverpool Crown Court that he was "no stranger by any stretch of the imagination to these courts.

"Had it not been for one fact and one fact alone you would be beginning an immediate custodial sentence."

Judge David Aubrey, QC, said that "regrettably" 26-year-old Jones has been undergoing courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

He added: "While it is hoped that further treatment may be of some success you are aware that the medical practitioners have stated to this court that they regrettably struggling to control your condition.

"It is for those reasons and only those reasons I am going to suspend what would otherwise be the appropriate sentence."

He sentenced Jones, of Ferns Road in Higher Bebington, to 14 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

Jones had pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and abstracting electricity.

The judge pointed out that Jones and his family would want to be close and there was only one way he could ensure that was possible so he should reflect on whether he wanted to be at home or "elsewhere".

Peter Hussey, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that police went to Jones' home on September 20 last year to arrest him as a warrant for his arrest had been issued after he failed to attend court for stealing a rucksack from a hotel in the Preston area.

He was not in but when his girlfriend opened the front door the officers could smell cannabis and hearing whirring fans and went inside and found 36 juvenile cannabis plants growing in an upstairs bedroom.

Seven 600 watt lamps were in use as well as transformers and fans and there was ducting leading from the wardrobe.

It was also found that the electricity meter had been bridged.

Mr Hussey said the plants had a potential yield of almost one and a half kilos with a street value of £21,500.

Jones came home about 40 minutes after the police raid and admitted, "it's all mine."

The court heard that he has numerous previous convictions including theft and has previously received suspended prison sentences.

Anna Duke, defending, said that Jones is due to return to a hospital’s oncology department next week.

"There is a new experimental treatment available for him and he may have to have surgery because there is a large mass in his groin."

She said that unfortunately the new treatment would not be a cure but it was hoped would prolong his life.

She explained that he had been obtaining cannabis oil over the internet but it was proving expensive so started growing the drug himself.