A WOMAN thanked a judge for sparing her prison after she allowed cannabis to be grown in her flat.

Police arrested Rebecca Gray after searching her home at Harwood Place in Kings Worthy near Winchester.

Officers found that one room had been used to grow cannabis, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Michael Butt, prosecuting, said leaves from the plants were found with a book with notes on growing the drug.

The plants were shipped out before police arrived, so the exact quantity of cannabis and its value is not known.

Gray, 37, was arrested in September and pleaded guilty in March to allowing her flat to be used for growing cannabis.

She claimed she only did it because someone was threatening her, the court heard.

She also admitted possession of 1.6 grams of cannabis and 917 diazepam tablets.

Psychiatric reports read at the sentencing described her as “very vulnerable”.

The court heard that she had previous alcohol-related convictions, but had stayed out of trouble for several years.

Recorder of Winchester Judge Keith Cutler handed Gray a 12-month community order and two-month curfew to stay home between 9pm and 6am.

He added: “There are people willing to help you, and they want you to do well, and I believe that you do, too.”