An alcoholic was “peeled off the pavement” by drug dealers who used his home as a cannabis factory – and paid rent in vodka.

But the crop was found by chance when the police turned up at Stephen Davies’s home to speak to him about an allegation made by his ex-wife.

The 46-year-old, of Blackshaw Drive, Coventry, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to permitting his premises to be used for the production of cannabis.

He had also admitted harassing his former wife while on bail for the cannabis offence – and was sentenced to a total of nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Judge Sylvia de Bertodano, having been told Davies had not been allowed into the court building for an earlier hearing after turning up drunk, also ordered him to take part in an alcohol treatment programme.

Prosecutor Philip Brunt said that in January last year the police went to speak to Davies over an allegation of sending a malicious communication to his ex-wife.

That matter was not pursued – but while they were there the officers became aware of 30 cannabis plants, each about 30 inches tall, growing in one of the rooms.

There was a supply of plant food, and the room had been equipped with growing lights and the electricity meter had been bypassed to power the system.

Stephen Davies
Stephen Davies

The harvest was worth as much as £25,200 on the street.

Davies owned the address, which had been his home before he married. He had moved back there after he and his wife separated in 2015.

He told police that he had been drunk on the street in the early hours of the morning and been approached by two people who had taken him home.

They regularly gave him bottles of vodka and set up the cannabis operation in his home. When he had complained, they threw him downstairs.

“His plea was entered on the basis that he was not to benefit from this, apart from bottles of vodka,” added Mr Brunt.

Back in 2016 there had been some concern about cannabis-growing at the house, but no action was taken after Davies blamed a tenant, who he said he had evicted.

Judge de Bertodano said: “It’s very bad luck, lightning striking twice like that.”

Last May, Davies was jailed for his fourth drink-driving offence, so the harassment of his ex-wife in November had taken place when he was on licence and on bail for the cannabis offence.

Davies phoned her saying something was going to happen to her and her new partner.

Defending, Laura Culley said Davies was a chronic alcoholic, as well as having mental health problems. Since failing to turn up at court, he had a fit while in police custody and was taken to hospital where he detoxed.

With regard to the cannabis at his home, she said: “It did come about in the way he described, that he was literally peeled off the pavement by these two men who offered to buy him more vodka and then set up the cannabis operation in his home.

“He needs to stop drinking. That is why the probation service have recommended an alcohol treatment requirement.”

Judge de Bertodano told Davies: “I am sentencing you on the basis that you were allowing others to use the premises to grow the plants, and your benefit was being given alcohol.

“You don’t need me to tell you that you need to knock the alcohol on the head.

“Your last three convictions were for driving with excess alcohol. If you go on doing that, you’re going to end up killing someone.”