A former soldier who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after tours in Bosnia and the Falklands has admitted growing cannabis at his home.

Patrick Davies used the drug to ease pain from a back injury and to alleviate the symptoms of his PTSD, Canterbury Crown Court was told.

Don Ramble, prosecuting, said on September 26 last year police called at his home in Northdown Road in Margate and found several men there and a strong smell of cannabis.

Davies told the police: “It’s mine, all mine,” Mr Ramble added.

Officers searched the property and found 21 cannabis plants and a bag containing 60.96g of cannabis.

In interview Davies, who has no previous convictions, said the cannabis was for his own use.

He said he grew the plants from seed obtained from Holland via the internet and was not growing it for anyone else.

Judge Rupert Lowe said: “I do not find it remotely plausible that this cannabis was for personal use.

"Nor do I find it plausible that someone who wanted to keep the cannabis secret would have people in his home smoking it.”

“I do not find it remotely plausible that this cannabis was for personal use..." - Judge Rupert Lowe

A probation officer told the court that Davies, who also admitted possessing cannabis, had been using the drug since 2005.

He decided to grow it because it was too expensive to buy.

He smokes six to seven joints a day but was trying to stop, she added.

Davies works part-time as a security guard. When he got his job he lost his benefit and then lost his accommodation because it was rented only to those claiming benefit.

He now stays with friends or his daughter.

Davies was sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £400 costs and an £85 surcharge.