A Livingston man was jailed for 80 days for turning his home into a cannabis farm and running a "major enterprise" to produce and supply illegal drugs.

Grant Radcliffe claimed at Livingston Sheriff Court he smoked the drug to ease a painful medical condition, but confessed he hadn't seen a doctor in more than five years.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard that Radcliffe bought hundreds of pounds worth of cannabis plants and growing equipment while he was on the dole.

Police were called to the 29-year-old's Livingston flat in Marina Road and found the front door 'destroyed', and a domestic drug factory inside.

Depute Procurator Fiscal Alastair Learmont told the Court: "A search of the property found a certain number of cannabis plants and a large quantity of equipment used for cultivation.

"The value of the drugs, which is accepted by the Crown, is around £600."

Radcliffe, whose address was given as 55 Staunton Rise, Dedridge, Livingston, pleaded guilty to three drug charges.

'Personal use'

He admitted growing cannabis plants, being in possession of the drug and being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug.

Radcliffe's solicitor Gordon Henderson claimed that the cannabis found in the living room of the house had been intended for his client's own personal use.

He told the court: "He bought the plants second hand for several hundred pounds. The whole idea behind it was to have an economy of scale and quality of product."

He said Radcliffe had last used cannabis four months ago and had since stopped it altogether.

Sheriff Martin Edrington questioned how Radcliffe could have afforded to buy several hundreds of pounds worth of equipment to cultivate cannabis while he was on benefits.

He said: "I understand from the background report that you have health problems which cause you pain, but it's not for you to self medicate with illegal drugs.

"I note that it is five years since you last consulted your doctor and that you are regarded as being at medium risk of re-offending.

"This seems to me to be a major enterprise funded by you whilst you were unemployed."

He added: "The High Court has stated that production is not just possession. It involves research, planning, and leads to increased supply of controlled drugs, if only for personal use.

"Because of this, aggravated by your previous conviction for production of illegal drugs, I take the view that the appropriate sentence would have been 120 days in prison. I will reduce that to 80 days because of your early plea of guilty."