A WOMAN caught growing 11 cannabis plants at her Southampton flat told police they were for personal use, a court heard.

Chloe Barlow had a cannabis growing set-up at the flat she shared with her now former partner.

Prosecution barrister, Edward Hollingsworth said that a drugs expert estimated the 11 plants to have a total value of around £2,500.

Police officers also found a box containing eight grip seal bags of MDMA at the 21-year-old’s home.

With a total weight of just over 52g, the wholesale value was estimated at around £1,000.

Mr Hollingsworth said: “These were drugs that she had access to for her own use.”

He added: “On March 5, 2020, police received a call from a member of the public who reported concerns of an apparent domestic incident at the defendant’s address which she shared.”

During a police interview, she said the cannabis was also for her own use.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, she was charged with possession of a class A drug and being concerned in the production of cannabis.

She previously pleaded guilty.

Defending, Barry McElduff said that Barlow had been subjected to a campaign of domestic abuse by her partner.

And, that she started using drugs following the death of her son.

Her “toxic relationship” has since ended and her life is now back on track, Mr McElduff added.

Judge Christopher Parker QC said her drug use was actually a course of self-harm rather than self-help or self-medication.

Barlow, now of School Street, Wilton-Le-Wear, was given a 12-month community order to include 100 hours of unpaid work.