Cannabis couple escape jail.

A COUPLE who had a cannabis factory in their home were spared prison.

The drugs were discovered after armed burglars raided the home of Stephen Hodgers , 28, and Claire, 26, and stole the majority of the plants.

Alarmed neighbours called the police after they saw the masked men fleeing the Huyton home carrying large sacks.

Liverpool crown court heard when officers arrived at the Cotsford Way house on December 30, last year, they noticed a strong smell of cannabis.

Cathy Mitchell, prosecuting, told how Stephen Hodgers asked if they needed to search the property and admitted: "I'm growing a few plants inside for personal use."

Mr Hodgers admitted there had been about nine plants before the raid. He admitted producing cannabis, while his partner Claire, who was the tenant of the house, pleaded guilty to allowing her premises to be used for the production of cannabis.

Ms Mitchell said if all the plants had been properly harvested they had a potential yield worth up to pounds 3,600. But the couple were given community sentences after the court heard they were both hard-working parents to a seven-year-old daughter. Robert Jones, defend-inStephen Hodgers, said his heavily-indebted client had turned to growing the drug to save money, but had now given up the habit.

Mr Jones added: "He no longer takes cannabis. No doubt partly because of the wrath of his wife for bringing this upon his family."

Judge Bryn Holloway ordered Stephen Hodgers to do 200 hours unpaid work and his partner 100 hours. They were both ordered to pay pounds 100 costs.