Illegal immigrant jailed for £40,000 Telford cannabis farm

Sajmir Llani had been living at the property in Telford for just a month when police raided the premises in June and he was arrested.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court Llani was jailed for two years after admitting his role in the production of almost 200 cannabis plants.

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.

Judge Robin Onions said sadly it was a familiar story of people coming to Britain illegally and being driven into working in the black economy.

He said he accepted Llani had not set up the cannabis production equipment at the house in Stonedale, Sutton Hill, but it was a substantial crop and he knew it was illegal.

Judge Onions said that Llani had been issued with a deportation notice and would be returned to Albania when he had served his sentence.

Mr Philip Beardwell, prosecuting, said that the defendant had tried to escape through a back door when police raided the property on June 5.

He said officers found 193 plants growing at the house and Llani had admitted working there as "a labourer" and said he did not know who owned the premises.

Mr Beardwell said Llani told police he had been washing cars for cash in Birmingham when a friend asked him to move to Telford to look after the plants.

Llani had lived in the kitchen at the house and his bills and living costs were being paid.

The court heard that there was a potential nine kilos of skunk cannabis with a street value of up to £40,000 of which Llani would have received 20 per cent.

Mr Graham Russell, for Llani, said his client had expected to raise £8,000 to help pay for his brother to have heart operation.

He said Llani was at the house under direction and needed written instructions to attend to the plants.

Mr Russell said his client spoke little or no English and was vulnerable because of his illegal status.