A MAN who allowed cannabis to be grown in a High Bentham lock-up has been ordered to pay £850 in fines and costs.

Michael Hodgkins, 49, recognised the smell of cannabis coming from the unit in Pybus Mill, but failed to notify the police, Skipton magistrates heard.

Hodgkins, the court was told, had been going through an acrimonious split from his partner at the time, and had been "self-medicating" with cannabis and cocaine.

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But he had no connection with what was going on in the lock-up and had sub-let it to Andrew Goss, who had earlier pleaded guilty to and dealt with separately for producing the class B drug, the court was told.

Hodgkins, who in January admitted to the possession of cannabis and cocaine at his home in Main Street, Kirkby Lonsdale, originally denied the further charge of allowing cannabis to be grown on premises he was responsible for, but changed his plea to guilty ahead of Monday's trial.

The court was told police carrying out a search of Hodgkins' home in June last year, revealed small amounts of cannabis and cocaine and the keys to a lock-up.

Police who attended the lock-up immediately smelt cannabis and a further search revealed a mezzanine floor containing 12 cannabis plants and growing equipment. The value of the plants was estimated at £4,950.

The court was told that Hodgkins was the leaseholder for the unit and had sub-let it to Goss. He had visited the unit just the day before and had recognised the smell of cannabis but because of his state of mind at the time had not informed the police.

He had no previous convictions and had chosen to turn a blind eye.

For the charges of possessing class A and class B drugs, and for permitting drug production, he was fined £500, with surcharge of £50 and prosecution costs of £300.