A MAN caught growing cannabis by firefighters who were called to his home to tackle a blaze has avoided jail.

Barry, Earnshaw, 43, was caught out when a fire started in a hot tub in the garden shed at his home in Woodbury Road, Wickford, in October.

Firefighters discovered the shed also contained a makeshift cannabis factory, with rows of mature dope plants with a street value of thousands of pounds.

Earnshaw was arrested and admitted charges of producing a class B drug and dishonestly using electricity without authority. Yesterday, at Southend Crown Court, he was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, and 200 hours coummunity service. He will reappear at the court on September 15 for a confiscation hearing, which will determine how much he will pay from the proceeds of crime.