Two drug offenders caught at "cannabis factory" in South Yorkshire
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Hamit Ademaj, aged 29, and Albert Noka, aged 20, were arrested after police entered the property on Ferham Park Avenue, Bradgate, Rotherham, and found about 120 cannabis plants with growing equipment, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing on February 23.
Zaiban Alam, prosecuting, said two police officers entered the open porch door and as they tried to open a living room door a third unnamed man escaped but Noka was restrained and Ademaj was apprehended.
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Hide AdJudge Sarah Wright told the Albanian defendants: “In April, of last year, you were both apprehended at a house in Rotherham where there was a substantial, sophisticated, commercial cannabis grow.”
Ms Alam said some windows and the rear door of the property had been sealed with breeze blocks and police found growing equipment and approximately 120 cannabis plants in two bedrooms with an estimated yield of £66,000.
She said: “This house was effectively a cannabis factory.”
Noka told police he had been a gardener and Ademaj said he had been in London and had only recently arrived in Rotherham and he had been told to build a wall.
Noka, who has previous convictions, and Ademaj, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to being concerned with the production of the class B drug cannabis after the discovery on April 1.
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Hide AdAndrew Swaby, defending, said Noka had been desperate to make a living and he has applied to remain in the country.
Mr Swaby added Noka’s family had been in opposition to the Albanian government and his life was at risk so he came to the UK when he was 14-years-old and he stayed in foster care until he was 18-years-old.
Rebecca Tanner, defending, said Ademaj came to the UK illegally but he had hoped to find legitimate building work.
The court heard the defendants, both of no fixed abode, have each spent time remanded in custody.
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Hide AdJudge Wright sentenced Ademaj to 12 months of custody but noted any time spent on remand would count towards that sentence.
She sentenced Noka to a 12 month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work.