Illegal immigrants forced to crime, top Shropshire judge says
A top judge says illegal immigrants arriving in the UK on the backs of lorries have no choice but to resort to crime for cash – as he sentenced a second Albanian in two days for growing cannabis.
Robin Onions said Eastern Europeans fleeing their homeland in the hope of securing work were finding it "almost impossible" to come by, leaving a life of crime the only option.
He was speaking after jailing Ermir Bezati at Shrewsbury Crown Court after police found him supervising a huge cannabis-growing operation at a house in Doddington, Hollinswood, Telford, in June this year. The court heard Bezati, 27, who speaks no English and had only been in the country for a few months, was paid £300 a week cash in hand plus food to live at the house and look after the 243 plants.
But he was arrested after officers acting on a tip-off raided the property.
Bezati admitted producing cannabis and was jailed for two years, with Judge Onions warning him he was likely to be deported back to Albania on release.
The judge said: "You came to this country illegally on the back of a lorry.
"You might have thought you would be able to work in this country.
"But the fact is illegal immigrants cannot work lawfully, nor are they entitled to any benefits or housing.
"They therefore have to resort to the black economy, and all too often that leads to the commission of criminal offences.
"You are the second Albanian in two days I have had to sentence for committing this offence.
"Your case has very strong parallels with the previous case.
"You are brought to an area you do not know, you are put in a house and asked to tend cannabis plants, and you are given cash in hand.
"I accept you were at the bottom of the drug supply chain but nevertheless you were playing a valuable role for commercial advantage."
Last week Sajmir Llani, another illegal immigrant from Albania, was also jailed for two years by Judge Onions for admitting his involvement in producing an estimated £40,000 worth of cannabis at a home in Stonedale, Sutton Hill, Telford.
The court heard that 27-year-old Llani had only been in the UK for just a few months having come into the country in the back of a lorry and wanted to raise money to help a sick relative.
