Police discovered more than £3,000 worth of stolen sports equipment and a cannabis factory when they were called out to reports of a break-in at a house in Keighley , a Court heard.

Bags of cricket bats and a leaf blower found at the address in Arctic Street were burgled the night before from JMS Sport UK, on Parkwood Street in the town, Bradford Crown Court was told.

Landscape gardener Stewart Walton, 31, of Percy Street, Keighley, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods on June 8 last year.

He and Laura Callanan, 22, admitted production of cannabis at her home.

The court was told yesterday that the sports shop was left locked and secure by staff on June 7, 2011. Next morning, it was discovered that the shutters had been forced and cricket bats, a leaf blower and a laptop computer stolen.

Police seized items from Callanan’s address and were alerted to a cannabis farm in the cellar by a buzzing sound and a strong smell of the drug.

In all, 28 cannabis plants were discovered, many in a specially- constructed black tent. There were heat lamps and a fan to nurture the crop.

The potential yield had a street value of £9,500, the court was told.

Walton, who had 76 previous convictions, but nothing for drugs offences, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with 80 hours of unpaid work and a three-month curfew order.

His barrister, Simon Myers, said he had stayed out of trouble and was motivated to lead an honest and hard-working life.

Callanan, who was of good character, was fined £500.

The court heard she was in work and did not set up the cannabis farm or stand to make any financial benefit from it.

She was pressured by Walton to allow him to use the cellar to grow the plants and had been left with a hefty electricity bill.