A Medway launderette boss who created a cannabis factory at his business has narrowly avoided a jail sentence.

Phillip Williams was told by a judge he was imposing the maximum amount of unpaid work to show how close he came to being sent to prison.

The 35-year-old businessman had claimed the 35 cannabis plants found growing at the back of Rainham Launderette in September last year were for a medical condition and not commercial supply.

Judge Michael Carroll decided at an earlier hearing that although there was some personal use, it was also for sale to others.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the launderette, which opened in Station Road in May 2012, was managed by Williams and operated by his wife.

As well as growing the drug at the launderette, the qualified electrician also had similar equipment set up at the couple’s home in Taswell Road, Rainham. The judge told him: “I have no doubt had you not been apprehended you would have gone on to cultivate cannabis at home.

“This is one of the things which has persuaded me this was not just for personal use to alleviate symptoms.”

Williams admitted cultivating the drug and abstracting £3,707 worth of electricity.

He was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 300 hours’ unpaid work.

Tony Ventham, defending, had told another judge Williams suffered from a syndrome which was “twitching” to the layman.

“He did his own research on the internet and found that cannabis alleviated it,” he said.

Mr Ventham said at the sentencing hearing on Friday that Williams had debts but repaid the cost of the abstracted electricity. “There has not been any re-offending and I can assure the court there won’t be,” he said.

“He no longer uses cannabis. He alleviates his condition by going to behavioural cognitive therapy.”

Judge Carroll said: “I am not going to send him to prison today. He has learnt his lesson. The public would be better served having him on the outside with his skills, rather than inside. It has been a very close-run thing. I am not going to put him on probation because he is old enough to know the error of his ways.”

A confiscation hearing was adjourned until March 6 next year.