A welder who was caught with 73 cannabis plants in his caravan told a court it was for his own personal use.

However, Judge Anthony King told him he would have to be smoking it “day and night” if the drug was just for him.

Nigel Robson, 46, of Church Road, Northmoor, said he grew the plants to try out different strains of the drug to try to help relieve the symptoms of a back injury.

He was given a 26-week sentence suspended for 18 months.

On Friday, Reading Crown Court was told a mobile home in Old London Road, Chipping Norton, used by Robson, was raided last year and found to contain 73 plants at different stages of maturity.

Prosecuter Hillary Neville said there was also nine ounces of the drug that appeared to be from a previous crop and hydroponics equipment worth about £4,000 pounds.

Andrew Trimble, defending, said Robson was now drug and alcohol free.

Robson was given a supervision order and 140 hours’ unpaid work.