A South Tyneside man was jailed for 12 months yesterday after he cultivated and stored £22,000 worth of cannabis in his flat.

Jonathan Pelling, 21, admitted to police that he had been growing cannabis for two months to support his drugs habit.

Police recovered four cannabis plants and bags full of the drug hidden in an alcove when they raided his flat in Shakespeare Street, South Shields, on March 16, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

They also found sophisticated timing systems, pressure devices and carbon dioxide cylinders which had been used to grow the cannabis.

Although police uncovered £22,000 worth of the drug, Pelling said he had no idea how much it was worth as he was storing some of it for someone else.

He said he was allowing someone to hide the drugs at his flat in exchange for a few smokes, but denied knowing how much was involved.

Police also found that the electricity supply at the flat had been tampered with.

Julian Smith, prosecuting, said: "The defendant said that the bars were hidden for someone else and he was in debt to the dealer. He said that if anything went wrong he was to take the blame and was given free smokes to allow his flat to be used."

Pelling admitted producing cannabis and abstracting electricity.

Tim Gittins, defending, told the court that although Pelling knew his flat was being used, he was unaware of how much was being stored there.

The court was also told how Pelling came to rely on the scheme to support his own cannabis habit.

Judge Peter Bowers sentenced Pelling to 12 months in prison.

Judge Bowers said: "You are one of the few people who can prove to others that cannabis can become a habit and a very expensive one, not only in money, but the cost to your family.