He said he had been threatened into watering the plants
Gibbet Street, Halifax(Image: Google)
A dad found hiding in an abandoned Halifax terrace house rammed with more than 800 cannabis plants is to be deported to Albania.
When he was arrested Mirlan Palushaj told West Yorkshire Police he had only come into the country a few months ago and had struggled because of his alcohol and gambling addictions. He was found hiding behind boxes in the loft area of the Gibbet Street property, which had been professionally kitted out to house a cannabis farm.
Officers forced entry to the house on September 25 and were overwhelmed by the smell of cannabis. Prosecutor Elizabeth Noble said there were 820 plants in various stages of growth at the house set up across nine rooms which also housed fans, lighting and electrical transformers.
She told Bradford Crown Court electricity to the premises had been bypassed and all but one of its windows had been covered.
The court heard Palushaj arrived on a six-month visitor visa in June, but he says he then lost all his documentation in London and ended up begging on the streets of Manchester. There, he says he was offered food by two men who took him to Halifax.
He said he was then threatened into looking after and watering the plants.
Palushaj, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to a charge of producing cannabis last month and on Friday, December 12 his barrister Imran Khan said the defendant wanted to apologise. He said his client had gambled and drunk until he had no money left and was then too embarrassed to tell his family back in Albania.
Jailing him for 22 months, Judge Kirstie Watson said the cannabis operation had been capable of producing significant quantities for commercial use and she recommended Palushaj should be deported.
Get all the latest and breaking Huddersfield news straight to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here.
Get all Yorkshire crime and court stories sent to your phone
Get all the latest crime and court stories in Yorkshire news straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here.
Whether it’s breaking news straight from a crime scene, live updates from big court cases happening in our region or police appeals, you’ll get it all.
If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here.
Comments are closed.