Illegal immigrant in court over illegal cannabis grow in Bishop Auckland

Albanian national Dashmir Hazizaj was arrested after police interrupted an illegal ‘grow’ at an address in Salisbury Place, Bishop Auckland, on July 20.

Officers recovered 145 plants in various stages of maturity from the premises, which was fitted with sophisticated heating and lighting equipment to aid the growth.

Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said the electricity meter was found to have been bypassed, allowing free power supply to aid the operation.

Dashmir Hazizaj hoped to earn £3,000 by tending cannabis farm at address in Bishop Auckland Picture: DURHAM CONSTABULARY (Image: Picture: DURHAM CONSTABULARY)

Read more: Jailed cannabis farmer said he was acting under orders tending grow in Seaham

Appearing before magistrates the following day, the 24-year-old defendant admitted producing a controlled drug of class B.

A previous scheduled sentencing hearing at Durham Crown Court could not take place as there was insufficient detail over the cannabis grow, while an administrative mix up led to a Farsi interpreter being provided instead of an Albanian speaker, to assist the defendant, who the court was told has no English.

James Fenny, representing Hazizaj, told the latest hearing that the defendant is anxious to learn his fate and to serve his sentence.

“As of July 20 this year he had only been in this country for approximately five or six months.

“He came to the UK as an illegal immigrant from Germany, where his pregnant partner lives.

“He found out she was pregnant while he was in the UK.”

Mr Fenny said the defendant was initially doing construction work in London, for which he earned £1,000 per month, but was told he could earn £3,000 by coming to the North East to act as a gardener at a cannabis grow.

“He was brought to the address and given two hours’ instruction what to do, and then left to get on with it.”

Read more: Cannabis grower placed in County Durham home to repay debt

Mr Fenny said Hazizaj had to use the money earned from working in construction to pay for his upkeep, and, at the time of his arrest, had only been at the property in Bishop Auckland for a few weeks, without receiving a further visit from his overseers.

He added that Hazizaj had nothing to do with the set up of the operation or the bypassing of the electricity meter.

Judge James Adkin said gardeners for such sophisticated grows, “capable of producing significant quantities of cannabis for commercial use”, perform an important function in the operation even if they have no influence on those higher up the chain.

Imposing a 16-month prison sentence, Judge Adkin said the defendant would serve up to half in prison before being deported.

Read next:

               Cannabis 'gardener' fled house in County Durham when police raided

               Seaham man who was caught with cannabis farm said he was just a 'gardener'

               Pair were dismantling cannabis farm when Durham Police raided premises

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