Rotherham cannabis farmer ‘came within a whisker’ of prison

Police discovered 10 plants in the loft of Robert Evans' Rawmarsh home, following a tip-off, on July 23, said prosecutor Michael Tooley.

The plants were under three lamps and would have yielded between £3,500 and £5,500 if sold on the street, he said.

At the time, Evans was on a two year suspended prison sentence for common assault, making threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon, last November.

Andrew Smith, mitigating, said: "He realises he is in jeopardy today. You will observe he has a well-packed bag with him.

"He is an easy man to deal with. He realises he came within a whisker of custody. He has a basket full of problems."

Recorder Abdul Iqbal QC told Evans: "You're fortunate. Had there been any evidence that you had been supplying cannabis not only would you have received a prison sentence for the cannabis, but I would have activated the suspended sentence."

Evans, 35, of Thompson Close, pleaded guilty to growing the Class B drug, when he appeared at Sheffield Crown Court, on Friday.

He received an "onerous" 12 month community order, with 25 days of rehabilitation, drug treatment and 100 hours of unpaid work.

But the judge warned Evans that if he doesn't take the order seriously or if "you're ever back before this court than I will send you to prison."