A Bolton man was found to be growing cannabis after police attended reports of a burglary at his home. Police were called to Arnold Street, Halliwell, in May last year. Bolton Crown Court heard burglars entered the property and found Nigel Wilson inside.

They found him in his bedroom with two children and some cannabis. Wilson said his property had been burgled and some cannabis had been stolen by individuals who had entered and made threats towards him. Officers then found the remnants of a cannabis growth elsewhere.

Olivia Brooksbank-Laing said this had an estimated street value of between £4,000 and £13,000. She added “He has 15 previous convictions but none for drugs before this.” The prosecution accepted that the drugs were not intended to be dealt by Wilson.

Wilson, aged 44 and from Arnold Street, Halliwell, Bolton, appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting the attempted abstraction of electricity, possession of cannabis and production of cannabis. Edmund Potts, defending, said: “Mr Wilson wants me to say how sorry he is for his actions. “It is right to say he has health difficulties, that was why his behaviour came about.

“He is generally someone who can be relied upon. “He works at a garage in Breightmet." He also said he had repaid £2,800 to the electricity company.

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