An Albanian national who said he was "forced" to work in a County Durham cannabis farm in order to pay off a debt has been jailed.
Klajdi Kerkapi was found at a sophisticated cannabis farm that had been set up inside a Spennymoor address in May. The 25-year-old later told police he had been working as a "farmer" taking care of the grow, which had an estimated value of up to £117,000.
Kerkapi, of no fixed address, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for production of cannabis. He pleaded guilty to the charge at the hearing and required an interpreter throughout proceedings.
Read more: Heaton husband who subjected wife to 'disgusting' attack involving headbutts and biting walks free
The court was told that police raided a property on Clyde Terrace in Spennymoor at around 8am on May 17 and found the substantial cannabis farm. Kerkapi was found in a downstairs room and the electricity to the property had been bypassed.
Chris Baker, prosecuting, said: "The two bedrooms upstairs had cannabis grows in them and a cupboard under the stairs had young plants inside it. All of the grow had the usual equipment and recovered from the defendant was £210 cash along with ID documents and a mobile phone."
He continued: "The plants recovered were in different stages of growth and in total there were 208 plants, 145 of which were infants. Of those that were old enough, they could have produced four and a half to over 10kg." The court was told that the estimated value of the plants that were found was between £39,000 and just over £117,000.
Mr Baker added: "In police interview the defendant said he had been forced to grow cannabis having been brought to the UK by lorry. He had acted as a gardener."
Brian Russell, defending Kerkapi, who had no previous convictions, said: "He would not have had much choice as to whether he was placed in a large factory or a small one. He is keen to go back to his family and work off this massive debt. I invite your honour to pass a sentence that will allow him to do that."
Recorder Thomas Moran jailed Kerkapi for eight months.
