Wife thought he was tinkering with an old motorbike but in reality he was growing cannabis

CANNABIS user David Bearman set up a secret drug growing operation at his Wimblington, Cambridgeshire home - while is wife thought he was tinkering with his ancient motorbike.

A drugs raid at his home discovered the disguised eight-foot square growing room in the back of his garage, with a plasterboard petition and a small door in the false wall.

Nine plants - with a potential street value of �2,000 were being cultivated by Bearman in a sophisticated hydroponic system, with heat lamps hanging from the ceiling.

A bag of cannabis worth around �120 was found in a kitchen cupboard, and police found a book about growing marijuana.

Appearing at Wisbech courthouse, 38-year-old Bearman, of Chapel Lane, Wimblington, admitted growing cannabis on January 20, and possessing 21.6 grams of cannabis.

Prosecutor Andrea Fawcett said wires from the main light switch in the garage had been fed to the rear; and each plant was connected to a water pump.

Bearman told police he had been growing the plants for five weeks, and created the growing set-up without anyone's knowledge.

"His use of growing cannabis goes back to when he was 15 years old," said solicitor James Macwhirter.

"It is no secret he uses cannabis, and derives significant therapeutic benefit from it. In November last year his mother passed away. He resigned from work to take care of her, and started to use cannabis more heavily to numb himself from seeing his mother in pain."

The growing equipment used by Bearman is readily available on the internet, added Mr Macwhirter.

"His wife had not idea what he was doing, she thought he was tinkering with his ancient Norton motorcycle."

The court ordered Bearman to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay �85 costs. The drugs and equipment were forfeited and will be destroyed.