A cannabis grower fled from police and was found hiding in a green wheelie bin, a court heard. Armando Hysaj, 25, hotfooted across private gardens after warrant enforcement officers turned up at a home in Mansfield Woodhouse on February 7 this year.
Nottingham Crown Court was told the sudden arrival of the enforcement team was to do with the non payment of electricity. But when they gained entry, with the help of a locksmith, they were hit by the overpowering smell of cannabis.
When cops were called, Hysaj ran but was arrested in the bin with the help of a police dog called "Yogi". David Allan, prosecuting, said the defendant was cautioned over his arrest on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and he replied: "Me? No".
READ MORE: Warning murder and rape cases will 'crash to a halt' as barristers set to strike
READ MORE: Clubber spotted whipping belt outside Pryzm nightclub in Nottingham
More than 150 cannabis plants were then discovered growing in the bedrooms and the garage. The crop had the potential value of £130,000 - if sold in one-gram deals - or between £3,500 and £5,000 - if sold by the kilo.
"It was a sophisticated, professional set up, although the lights were operated manually and the plants watered by hand from a water butt in the bathroom," said Mr Allan. "There was a living area described as being in a, 'habitable state', with a good amount of food in the cupboards and fridge freezer.
"There were recent signs of food preparation, keys for the property in the doors, there was a bed, TV and sofa. The electricity was bypassed, although there is no separate charge in respect of this".
Hysaj, who had an Albanian interpreter with him in court, entered the UK illegally via Spain. Originally he stayed at a deportation centre near Gatwick, before he was given alternative accommodation..
But he ended up growing the cannabis, and pleaded guilty to production when he appeared before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 8. Sentencing him at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday, June 22, to eight months in prison, Judge Mark Watson said: "This was a professionally constructed cannabis grow and it was undoubtedly capable of producing significant quantities for onward sale".
Hysa, of The Rushes, Mansfield, will serve half of his sentence then, subject to the decision of the Home Office, he will be on licence for the remainder and on 12 months supervision under the probation service. Judge Watson said: "If you were to breach the licence or supervision, you would be liable to be returned to custody for some, if not all, of the balance, although the expectation is you will be deported before then".
PC Shaun Healey, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Cannabis production on this scale is an extremely serious offence that also poses considerable risks to neighbouring properties. These kind of grows generate huge amounts of heat and often contain dangerous and overloaded electrical systems which can easily lead to a fire.
“They can also attract incidents of serous violence from rival criminals who wish to get their hands on the drugs within. The officers – and dog – involved in this case did a great job to locate Hysaj so quickly and I am pleased he has now been bought to justice.
“He may have thought a wheelie bin to be a good hiding place, but in reality it was no match for a well-trained police dog.”
READ NEXT:
- Dangerous drunk driver drove at 100mph during police chase
- Dad cries as he admits defrauding Macmillan Cancer Support
- Man accused of arriving in England without coronavirus testing kit
- Mum bragged she was 'brilliant' while earning £250,000 per year from prostitution ring
- Ex-MP Anna Soubry’s work as a barrister sometimes pays less than £10 an hour
