2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Laura Cross)
Two men were found looking after large numbers of cannabis plants in two separate houses very near to each other in the same street. They both hastily tried to escape from the houses but police chased and caught them before they could manage to flee from the scene, Hull Crown Court heard. Florenc Sefgjini, 32, who had been living at a house in Plane Street, off Anlaby Road , west Hull, admitted cultivating cannabis and Rama Erikson, 20, who had been living at a nearby house, admitted producing cannabis on February 14.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that both men were found at neighbouring houses in Plane Street and both of them made attempts to get away when police arrived. "They were both detained at the scene," said Mr Welch. Both men were gardeners for significant cannabis factories.
There were about 260 cannabis plants in the house being looked after by Sefgjini and between 80 and 100 in the one where Erikson was found. Both men had no previous convictions. Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that Sefgjini was originally from Albania and he came from a very poor background.
"His family are very poor and he came to the UK with the intention of bettering himself and his family's life," said Miss Thompson. "He had been at the grow for about two months. He hoped that he would be able to earn a legitimate income but he couldn't.
" He realised that he faced possible deportation. Connor Stuart, representing Erikson, said: "He came to the UK to work legitimately and he incurred debts as a result of his travel and so he was told to work off his debt. He found himself in this role when the police arrested him at the property.
He is very sorry for what he has done. There is a degree of genuine remorse." Keep up to date with all the latest crime and court news from Hull with our free newsletter Judge John Thackray KC told the pair: "Cannabis causes misery in our communities.
It causes significant mental health difficulties and you were playing your role in its production. There were plants measured in the hundreds." Sefgjini was jailed for 16 months.
Erikson was sent to a young offenders' institution for one year. The two were helped in court by an Albanian interpreter. Don't miss a thing.
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