A judge has called for criminals living off the taxpayer to be thrown out of their homes after a Black Country property was used for drug growing by the jobless resident.

District Judge Graham Wilkinson launched a tirade against people on benefits and living in council housing who are convicted of crimes and called for them to be evicted from their homes.

He spoke out after Richard Cox, aged 25 pleaded guilty to growing 12 cannabis plants at his former home in Brantley Avenue, Finchfield, Wolverhampton.

Cox, who now lives in Castlecroft Road, was caught after police searched his former council-leasehold home and found 12 plants with a hydroponic setup.

The court heard Cox was not working after breaking his ankle earlier this year and was growing the plants for his own personal use due to financial reasons.He was contributing £175 to the rent for living in the house.

Judge Wilkinson, sitting at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court, said Cox clearly had money to buy the equipment for the plants.

He said: “The local taxpayer is paying for this man who is using the property to commit crime. A clear message should be sent to people engaged in this sort of thing in council properties, they should lose their benefits or their properties.”

He added: “Three quarters of the warrants I am currently signing in this court are for people who like you think it’s ok, whilst on benefits and being supported by the taxpayer, to use the addresses to grow cannabis.

“It is not acceptable, it is a crime, and the sooner the councils start serving eviction notices on people who are involved in these sorts of things the sooner people will realise they shouldn’t be doing it.”

Cox was handed a six-month community order and a six week curfew between 8pm and 6am every night. He was also fined £85.

Mark Henderson, of Wolverhampton Homes said: “We work closely with the police, other organisations and the community in gathering information to assist our efforts. We will not hesitate to take action wherever necessary and appropriate.

“In this case the property is not a council tenancy.”

Wolverhampton Homes manages 23,500 properties including 1,900 leaseholds, for the city council.