A shop worker from Wolverhampton who grew cannabis at her home to “keep afloat” financially after quitting work to look after her terminally-ill partner has narrowly avoided jail.

Lynne Tomlinson, aged 46, of Lea Road in Penn Fields, started growing the plants in an upstairs room in 2006 when her boyfriend John Barlow was diagnosed with cancer.

The drugs were sold to friends of Mr Barlow, who had been a musician and was working at the time as a promoter for local bands, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Mr Geoffrey Dann, prosecuting, said yesterday a total of 19 “healthy” cannabis plants were found at Tomlinson’s home by police during a raid last September.

In an interview, health food shop worker Tomlinson told police a friend had installed drug-growing equipment in the room.

She also told officers she was “ashamed” of her actions and admitted she was short of money and came up with the idea of growing cannabis to “keep afloat.”

Mr Shawn Williams, defending, told the court Tomlinson who had made about £800 by selling the drugs had given up her employment to care for Mr Barlow,”

Mr Williams said.Tomlinson pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.

She was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and given 150 hours of unpaid work and a supervision order.