Police discovered a sophisticated cannabis-growing system in the garage when they raided a Malvern house, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Cannabis in its various stages was found in the freezer and a wardrobe, said Tariq Shakoor, prosecuting. Stalks and leaves were in bin liners.

Father-of-four Hank James Wootton, aged 31, of Blandford Close, Welland, was jailed for four months after he pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis. He also admitted possessing six ecstasy tablets and was given a one-month concurrent sentence.

His partner, Varsana Davies, 30, was given a two-year conditional discharge after pleading guiltyto allowing the premises to be used for growing cannabis.

Police first went to the house after finding Wootton lying in a hedge at 11pm on January 18 last year. He had a glass jar containing six ecstasy tablets which he claimed were painkillers. He later said the tablets were for his own use.

There was a strong smell of cannabis at his home and the search revealed a cannabis growing catalogue as well as quantities of the drug.

Wootton said he had bought the seed and then growing equipment for £2,000. About 40 plants had been harvested but the drug was for his personal use.

Davies said she had been a cannabis user since she was 14. She was alerted to the cultivation by the strong odour and realised there was some stored in the bedroom.

Andrew Evans, for Wootton, said his life had gone downhill since the death of one of their children. A painting and decorating business had failed and he had taken to cannabis cultivation.

Glyn Samuel, for Davies, said she was suffering from depression and had turned a blind eye to the cultivation. She was looking after their four children and hoped to obtain incapacity benefit because she was unable to work.

Recorder Freeman accepted that the pair had been cannabis users for a long time but the cultivation had been on an industrial scale. Cannabis was still an illegal drug although it had been downgraded and cultivation of such an amount could only be marked by custody.

He appreciated that Davies had been through difficult times and her partner had been unthinking when he put her at risk.