A tenant converted part of his home into a cannabis factory to feed his personal habit, a court heard.
When police raided the four-bedroom detached rental property in Coverside Road, Great Glen, they found Joshua Brennan was growing 26 illegal plants.
John Hallissey, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court: "Two bedrooms had been converted into a cannabis factory.
"There was a lighting system, heat-lamps, watering equipment and ventilation pipes installed in the ceiling.
"The defendant told the police he'd been smoking cannabis for a long time and was growing it for himself.
"In interview, he accepted he'd extracted the electricity."
Brennan (26) admitted producing cannabis, on the basis it was for his own use and not a commercial venture, on July 4 last year.
He gave evidence about the circumstances surrounding the offence.
Brennan told the court he moved into the rented property – following the break-up of a relationship – just three weeks before he was arrested.
He spent £1,000 on the equipment, installing it himself after researching the subject on the internet and using his experience of working with air conditioning units and as a former shop-fitter.
Brennan, of Saville Road, Blaby, said he was a heavy cannabis user.
He said: "I'd hoped to grow enough so I didn't have to keep giving my money over to drug dealers. It was 100 per cent for myself.
"I wasn't going to sell it, I'm not that kind of person and don't need to do something like that."
Recorder Robert Egbuna said photographs showed the plants were in a withered and poor condition.
He accepted Brennan's account and sentenced him to a 12-month community order, with 160 hours of unpaid work.
Recorder Egbuna said: "It doesn't appear professional and wasn't an impressive growing operation.
"It wasn't motivated by financial reasons, but it's still serous.
"I'm giving you a chance."
Vasanti Vaitha, mitigating, said: "There were no others involved."
