Man found hiding in cannabis farm loft sentenced

Ceponis was charged with one count of producing cannabis and admitted the offence at Cambridge Crown Court in August

A man found hiding in the loft of a house growing cannabis has received a two-year suspended sentence.

Police forced entry to the house on Mountbatten Way, Peterborough, in June 2021 and seized 84 plants, with a street value of up to £70,560.

Karolis Ceponis, 31, who was found hiding under loft insulation, admitted producing cannabis and claimed he was forced to do so by Polish mafia to repay a £10,000 debt.

Last week, Peterborough Crown Court handed Ceponis, of Broadway, the sentence and he was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and to complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Police found the entire house had been converted into a cannabis factory, with books on growing the drug found on the coffee table.

Ceponis said in a police interview the mafia had even told him where to hide should police investigate.

Police seized cannabis plants from every room of the house

Det Con Paul Baxter urged members of the public to continue reporting suspicious activity.

"Ceponis thought he could hide but he was found and brought to justice. Drugs cause misery in our communities and can be the catalyst for more serious crimes and violence," he said.

"We rely on people in our communities being our eyes and ears because we can't be everywhere. If something doesn't seem quite right, it more than likely isn't."

Police said key signs a property was being used as a cannabis factory included:

• Frequent visitors at unsocial hours throughout the day and night

• Blacked out windows or condensation, even when it is not cold outside

• Bright lights in rooms throughout the night

• A powerful, distinctive, sweet, sticky aroma and noise from fans.