Man who came to the UK 'in the back of a lorry' caught looking after Telford cannabis grow
An Albanian man who entered the country illegally in the back of a lorry was found working as a cannabis 'gardener' in Telford.
The case is the latest in the town, where police have tracked down a number of people operating as 'gardeners' – essentially looking after a crop of the drug for dealers further up the chain.
Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that Marin Hysa, 33, was discovered when police raided a property in Haybridge Avenue, in Hadley, on July 18.
Officers had arrived at the house at 7.37am and Hysa was seen running away from the rear of the home.
He was arrested and inside the house police found it had been converted to grow cannabis – with special lights and hydroponic equipment.
Two upstairs rooms housed 44 and 49 adult plants respectively, while another room was found to contain 128 baby plants.
In an interview following his arrest the only question answered by Hysa was how long he had been at the property – he told officers he'd been there for a week.
Robert Edwards, mitigating for Hysa, said the 33-year-old had come to the country earlier this year, and was "transported in the back of a lorry".
He said that Hysa, who listened to the court proceedings through an interpreter, did not have a job in Albania and came to the UK looking for work.
Mr Edwards added: "From there on in, I am afraid, lies a story the court will be only too familiar with."
He told Judge Recorder Julian Taylor that Hysa had been homeless and was approached by a man who 'spoke to him in Albanian'.
He said that the defendant was given the offer of accommodation while he looked for work, and was taken to the property in Hadley where he was asked to 'look after' the plants, while seeking legal employment.
Mr Edwards told the court Hysa, who has been remanded in custody since the offence, had not benefitted financially from looking after the plants, or from their sale.
Mr Edwards added: "There has been no contact yet from the immigration authorities but no doubt they will be getting in touch with him.
"He tells me he will raise no objection to being deported back to Albania."
Sentencing, Recorder Taylor said: "You have pleaded guilty to production of cannabis – quite a considerable number of plants.
"They were seized at Haybridge Avenue, in Hadley, Telford, on July 18 this year.
"You tried to leave the premises but the officers arrested you, really at the scene, and a considerable quantity of cannabis plants were seized at the property along with other items for production, all concerned with growing cannabis.
"You came to this country and you were exploited, it seems to me, and I accept you were a 'gardener' on the premises."
Hysa, who had pleaded guilty to one count of producing a class B drug, was jailed for a total of nine months.