A NEWPORT man who grew cannabis plants to help with his arthritis was told to attend thinking workshops yesterday.

Benjamin Page, 38, of Liberty Grove in Lliswerry, cultivated 26 plants in a room of his home but was caught out when water started leaking from the property which was part of a block of flats.

He admitted the offence and was sentenced at Newport Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Page, whose father sat in court with him, told the court he used pots, soil and a sodium lamp to grow the plants rather than specialist hydroponic equipment to grow the marijuana in water.

Stephen Head, prosecuting, told the court: "There's no suggestion he was doing this for financial benefit. He suffers from arthritis and because [cannabis] was difficult to get hold of and expensive he ordered seeds online for personal use."

Defending, Alan Jones said his client had endured mental health issues for around 20 years.

Deputy district judge Morgan Jones told him: "I hope you have enough insight to realise your long standing problem is probably connected to the side effects of cannabis use. If you are going to find your way out of this and make something of yourself you are going to have to steer clear of illicit substances. Courts take the production of drugs seriously."

He imposed a 12 month community order requiring Page to attend sessions with probation officers, go to 35 consequential thinking and problem solving sessions, and also 10 financial management workshops.

Mr Morgan also ordered the destruction of the cannabis and any associated equipment. He told Page to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.