Illegal migrant jailed for £140k cannabis farm
John Hyseni, originally from Albania, admitted producing cannabis
- Published
An illegal migrant who was found looking after a cannabis farm with a street value of about £140,000 has been jailed.
John Hyseni, 23, was allowed to live at the house in Firwood Gardens, Gateshead, in exchange for growing the Class B drug, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Officers found 140 plants spread across three rooms on 2 October, along with growing equipment.
Hyseni, an Albanian national who arrived in the UK on a "dinghy" two years ago, admitted producing cannabis and was jailed for one year and four months.
Prosecutor Antonia Adie said officers had received a tip-off the house, in the Lobley Hill area of the town, was being used to grow cannabis, with a sophisticated set-up discovered.
She said the property's electricity meter had been bypassed and Hyseni would have got "significant" advantage from being involved, namely by being given accommodation.
About 140 plants were found spread across three rooms
In mitigation, Charlie Thompson said Hyseni was at the bottom of the drug gang chain and was in effect a gardener, who was given accommodation and "pocket money for food" in exchange for looking after the plants.
Hyseni arrived in the UK on a "dinghy" in 2022 after fleeing gambling debts he had accrued in Albania, Mr Thompson said.
He initially worked in construction in London but lost his job and home when his illegal status became known, the court heard.
A "friend of a friend" told him of the opportunity in Gateshead and "in an act of foolish desperation" he agreed to it, Mr Thompson said.
"He recognises he has gained nothing from coming to the [UK] and should have faced his problems head-on in [Albania] rather than running away from them," Mr Thompson said, adding it had been a "salutary lesson".
Judge Tim Gittins said he accepted Hyseni "felt under some pressure" but there was "no evidence" he was "under duress or threats from those above" him.
He said after completing his sentence, Hyseni would be deported.
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