A former soldier whose “hobby” of growing cannabis got out of hand and resulted in him having enough cannabis to last a heavy user of the drug three years has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Sentencing Dorian Smyth, Judge Emma Peters accepted he had grown the cannabis for his own use and had not been commercially motivated.

Smyth, 55, who was living in Haverhill Road, Little Wratting, admitted producing cannabis and was given a 16 month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work

Ipswich Crown Court heard that police officers who went to Smyth’s house in September found 19 plants growing in a bedroom with the aid of lighting and ventilation pipes.

Two tubs containing 4kg of cannabis material were found in a downstairs cupboard.

The court heard that the tub contents weighed 4 kg and would have lasted a heavy user using 28g of cannabis a week 152 weeks.

Hugh Vass, for Smyth, said his client had worked as a chemical engineer after leaving the army and had grown the cannabis for his own use. “It was a hobby that got out of hand,” he said.