A single father caught growing cannabis said the drugs were to help alleviate chronic pain in his body.

Police executed a search warrant on Peter White’s home, in Eastwood Road, Goodmayes, on November 9 and found four bags of cannabis and 10 stems and buds of the plant that had been harvested and hung out to dry.

The 47-year-old was arrested, charged with production of a class B drug and pleaded guilty at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The court heard White’s cannabis farm was “not sophisticated” but the number of plants was higher than what is classed as growing for “own use”.

In mitigation his defence solicitor, Baskaran Manikam, said White grew the cannabis so he could use it to help alleviate pain around his body, which he had been experiencing for more than 15 years.

White had not sold or given away the drugs or had any intention of doing so, Mr Manikam added.

The court heard White is on incapacity benefits and cares for his 15-year-old son alone.

Magistrates ordered he be electronically tagged for three-months, with a 7pm-7am curfew, and that he pay �85 court costs. The drugs will be destroyed.