Two men caught tending cannabis farms in different terraced properties in County Durham last month have appeared in court in separate cases.
One of the pair, both Albanian nationals illegally in the UK, has received a 13-month prison sentence for his role as a “mere” gardener overseeing an illicit grow in Seaham.
The second, who was arrested after a police raid on a property in Bishop Auckland, on July 20, is to be sentenced next month.
Rolomol Cipi was arrested at a house in Alexandrina Street, in Seaham, from where 48 cannabis plants were recovered by police, on July 3.
Read more: Seaham man who was caught with cannabis farm said he was just a 'gardener'
Durham Crown Court was told the electricity meter was bypassed allowing the grower free power supply.
The 25-year-old defendant, speaking via an Albanian interpreter, recently admitted producing a class B drug and abstraction of electricity.
But after both guilty pleas he said: “I was a gardener at that house.”
Matthew Simpson, prosecuting, told that hearing he was unable to say if that basis of plea was acceptable to the Crown.
Judge James Adkin asked for the defence basis of plea to be put in writing to the court within seven days, with the prosecution response to follow.
When the case came back to court the hearing was told the prosecution accepts the defence basis that Cipi was no higher in the chain than the gardener.
On that basis, Judge Adkin imposed the 13-month prison sentence, telling the defendant he would serve half in custody and after that he would be deported.
In the second case, Dashmir Hazizaj, 24, admitted producing a class B drug at the house in Salisbury Place, in Bishop Auckland, when he appeared before magistrates recently.
Read more: Police raid Bishop Auckland address and seize large cannabis grow
His case was sent to the crown court for sentence today (Thursday, August 18).
The defendant appeared by video link from nearby Durham Prison, but the case could not proceed as, due to an administrative mix-up, a Farsi interpreter was provided for the Albanian speaker.
His counsel, James Fenny, told the court he had been able to have a conference with the defendant a few days earlier when he was assisted by an Albanian interpreter.
Mr Fenny told Judge Jo Kidd: “He has no English as he had only been in this country for a matter of weeks and he was only at the property for even less time.
“But he was able to tell me he knew what he was doing and he was free to leave the house if he wished.”
Judge Kidd adjourned the hearing and asked for a police drug expert’s report on the scale of the grow and the potential value of the plant yield, to be prepared for the re-arranged sentencing hearing, on September 15.
The defendant will remain in custody prior to the hearing.
Read next:
Pair were dismantling cannabis farm when Durham Police raided premises
Cannabis 'gardener' fled house in County Durham when police raided
Cannabis farm and modern slavery connected to North East town
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