A man who tests computer games for a living admitted growing cannabis.

Jonathon Martin Hatch, 34, has the ‘envious’ occupation of developing games for the X-Box and Playstation, a court heard.

But he spends up to £200 per week on a ‘serious’ cannabis habit, magistrates were told.

The addiction resulted in Hatch buying drugs in bulk and even trying to grow it in his own house.

On July 3, Hatch was caught drug driving and in possession of £500 worth of cannabis.

The next day officers searched his home and found a small cannabis farm, a court heard.

Hatch, of Cholmondeley Street, Macclesfield, admitted drug driving, possession of cannabis and producing cannabis.

Bev Dobson, prosecuting, said: “On July 3 the defendant was followed by police in Knutsford. They pulled him over and saw he had red eyes and he was sweating.

“He admitted to having a ‘spliff’ the night before and admitted there was £500 worth of cannabis in the car which was personal use.

“Police found the drugs in the footwell of the car.

“He then told officers he was taking the drugs to someone to make some money, saying ‘I’m going down for this aren’t I?’.”

“On July 4, police went to the defendant’s property where they found four well developed cannabis plants in a bedroom. They also found a black tent, funnel into the roof and a water tank.

“During interview Hatch denied dealing drugs but claimed it was for personal use. He told police that he had a cannabis problem and was spending up to £200 per week on his habit.”

Sam Fixter, defending, said Hatch was in a ‘sad situation’.

He said: “It could sound like he was a drug dealer but he clearly isn’t and police have investigated him fully.

“He is a serious cannabis addict and he has been in a bad place.

“This will have a big impact on his life, on his job. His job is a good one, testing and developing computer games for X-Box and Playstation.

“Many people would be envious.

“The reason he had so much cannabis was that he doesn’t like mixing with the criminality that he gets the drugs from or going to those areas, so he buys in bulk to limit his contact with them.”

Hatch was given a community order for 12 months with 100 hours unpaid work and was banned from driving for 12 months.