A BIRKENHEAD man caught with a £25,600 cannabis crop in his home has narrowly escaped being sent to jail.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how police raided Christopher McGinn's then home in Westbury Street in Birkenhead and in a bedroom found a total of 32 cannabis plants growing.

McGinn, 31, was present during the raid on November 30, 2016 and arrested, said Stella Hayden, prosecuting.

McGinn, who has committed 32 previous offences including animal neglect, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and abstracting electricity.

Anna Duke, defending, said that McGinn has had "significant problems" with drug misuse but since being released from prison after his last sentence he has co-operated with the probation service and is trying to address his drug misuse.

She said that McGinn is currently "sofa surfing" but has been offered a home by his sister until he can find his own accommodation.

Judge Denis Watson, QC sentenced him to nine months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and ordered him to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and 20 days rehabilitation activities.

The court heard that McGinn had initially claimed that the cannabis plants were for his personal use but the judge told him: "You were hoping to make some money out of this.

"The idea that it was all for your personal use is ridiculous."

He pointed out that he has an "appalling track record of complying with community-based penalties" and said: "Whether we see each other again is entirely up to you.

"If you don't complete the unpaid work you have sentenced yourself to prison."