A MAN who set up a cannabis plant production line in the attic of his Basingstoke home - complete with heat lamps and an irrigation system - has been given a community punishment order.

Police officers who raided Marvin Rose's house in Coppice Mews, Winklebury, discovered the elaborate operation nurturing dozens of young plants on August 9, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Robert Hill, prosecuting, said: "During a search of the loft, officers found up to 31 cannabis plants in various stages of growth, along with heat lamps, propagators, fans and electrical cables with timers."

He added that Rose, 35, an unemployed carpenter with teenage children, told officers he had been growing the cannabis as a new venture.

Adam Feest said his client - who pleaded guilty to one count of cultivating cannabis plants - was growing the drug for personal use only and asked for credit to be given for his prompt admission of guilt.

Judge Michael Brodrick heard that Rose has previous criminal convictions relating to the period 1982 to 1993. The only drugs offence was in 1991 when he was fined for possession of a controlled drug.

The judge handed him a 60-hour community punishment order, to be completed within 12 months, and ordered that the plants and related equipment be forfeited and destroyed.

He told Rose: "You've got carpentry skills that I hope can be put to good use during the community punishment order.

"The offence is not serious enough to warrant imprisonment at this stage, but that may be an option if the order is breached."