A DEPRESSED woman who allowed her boyfriend to set up a cannabis farm at her home sobbed after she walked free from court.

Deborah North, 40, admitted she had let David Mole grow the drugs at her home in West View Road, Hartlepool, because she felt powerless against him.

Teesside Crown Court heard she had gone to stay with her sister and when she returned, the drugs were in her bedroom. She asked Mole to remove the plants but he refused.

Patricia Mancina, prosecuting, said police searched his address next door and found a cannabis farm.

They searched North's house and discovered 19 young cannabis plants and a quantity of dried cannabis in the bedroom.

North was given a 100-hour community rehabilitation order over 12 months after she pleaded guilty to allowing premises to be used for drug production.