Drug squad officers found a shed had been converted into a hydroponics factory when they raided Michael Sefton's home in St Annes Road on the morning of November 17 2006.
They discovered the electricity meter had been bypassed and when they opened the shed, they found drugs, lamps, fans and other drug making paraphernalia.
Sefton was arrested but told officers he was not connected with the drugs and rented out the shed in the garden to another man, Oliver Wrestall.
But Hove Crown Court heard on Monday morning Sefton's fingerprints were found on equipment and he had written notes about the drug production.
Cakes made with cannabis and large amounts of cash were also discovered.
Sefton, 52, originally denied charges of cultivating cannabis and abstracting electricity but pleaded guilty the day of his trial at the crown court.
He appeared in court on Monday morning to be sentenced on growing the cannabis and using around £9,000 of electricity without paying for it.
Rufus Stilgoe, prosecuting, said, "Mr Sefton's involvement was more than allowing his property to be used to grow cannabis.
"The evidence showed he had a substantial involvement in the operation of growing cannabis."
Sefton no longer lives at the property and the judge in the case made an order preventing the publication of his current address because of fears of reprisals.
The court heard since the police raid and Sefton's arrest, he had been attacked on a number of occasions and a fire started at a house he was living at.
Ahmed Hossain, defending Sefton, said, "These are serious attacks on my client. There have already been physical assaults and a fire."
Sentencing Sefton, Judge David Rennie told him people who cultivated drugs deserved to go to prison.
But he followed a recommendation from the probation service that Sefton carry out 200 hours unpaid work.
Sefton, an ostrich farmer, was also ordered to pay £400 costs and the drugs will be confiscated.