A COUPLE caught growing £7,000-worth of cannabis were spared jail after telling a judge they used it to battle ME and alcoholism.

Stephen Clarke, 41,and partner Angela Moore, 40, said they needed the drug for medicinal use for ME and alcoholism respectively after police found 69 plants being grown in the garage of a home in St Luke's Road, Cowley, Oxford.

Yesterday Recorder John Ryder handed out community punishments after saying he had experience of ME.

Neither Moore or Clarke wanted to comment after the sentencing, and ran from court to a waiting taxi.

Recorder Ryder said: "I have personal experience of ME, not because it has affected me, but I know someone who suffered from this for many years and I'm only too aware to the extent it is debilitating and distressing."

Prosecutor David Bright said police discovered a hydroponics set-up in a shed and garage at the property, owned by Clarke, in December 2005. They estimated the street value of the plants at £7,440.

The following day, the remains of old cannabis plants were found at Thistle Drive in Blackbird Leys, where Moore lived.

The court heard police suspected the couple's operation was for commercial gain, but did not contest their claim it was for personal use.

Colin McCarraher, defending Clarke, said: "For a long time he has been in pain, and using cannabis to relieve that pain."

Dr Robert Marsden , a GP at Botley Medical Centre where Clarke was a patient, told the hearing he was diagnosed with ME five years ago. Dr Marsden said the symptoms were painful and included easily becoming tired, muscle aches, difficulty sleeping, spasms and restlessness in legs and muscles.

Claire Fraser, defending Moore, said she was a recovering alcoholic and mother of four, who once drunk a litre of vodka a day.

She began smoking cannabis to wean herself off alcohol, Miss Fraser added.

During sentencing, Recorder Ryder said neither Moore or Clarke were hardened criminals, adding: "Your activities did not put the public at any risk."

Moore and Clarke admitted to cultivating cannabis. A charge of conspiracy to produce cannabis will lie on the file.

Both Clarke, of Third Acre Rise, in Botley, and Moore, of Thistle Drive, Oxford, were ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and handed a two-year supervision order.