Police stumbled upon a £100,000 cannabis farm after being called to a water leak.
Aurel Pjetri was caught tending to the "professional setup" when it was inadvertently discovered by officers. Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Thursday, that the 25-year-old travelled to the UK from his native Albania hoping to find employment in the construction industry.
Instead, he was put to work as the "gardener" of a grow at a house on Hothfield Road in Wallasey, Wirral. Jamie Baxter, prosecuting, described how Pjetri was present when Merseyside Police was called to the address following reports of a water leak.
READ MORE: Teen found guilty of attempted murder after shooting man and girl in street
While PCs were carrying out a search in order to pinpoint the cause, they found that two upstairs bedrooms had been converted into drugs factories - with a third in the process of being set up in the kitchen. The 90 cannabis plants seized had a potential yield of between 2.5kg and 7.5kg, a stash which could have generated sums of between £50,000 and "well over" £100,000.
Pjetri, of no fixed address, has no previous convictions in this country. John Weate, defending, told the court that his client has a wife and a young child in Albania and "came to this country to find work to pay off debts."
He added: "He was assisted by those who monies were owed to and come into this country illegally - he believed he was going to involve himself in construction work, but ended up as a garden in this cannabis production. He appreciates custody is inevitable."
Pjetri, who was assisted by an interpreter, admitted production of cannabis. He was jailed for a year and told to pay a victim surcharge, with forfeiture and destruction of the drugs also ordered.
Sentencing, Judge David Hale said: "You did not set it up, but it was a professional setup - you played a lesser role in being the gardener. I accept you knew it was wrong."
READ NEXT: 'Wicked' carer left woman to die alone after lying about visiting
Police officer screamed racist abuse and recorded himself by mistake
Driver in 90mph chase was 'scared because of man who got shot by police'
Paedophile spent 12 years collecting more than 10,000 indecent images
Moment fare dodger punches rail staff to avoid paying for ticket
