A cannabis factory gardener in Luton was watering the plants there to pay off his own drug debt.
Dzerald Mykolaitis, 53, was arrested in March 2023, in Galston Road when the police found four rooms being used to grow the drug.
There were 100 young plants and 124 adult plants.
The yield would have produced cannabis with a value of between £18,600 and £93,000, Luton Crown Court heard on Friday, April 21, 2023.
Mykolaitis of Library Road, Luton appeared for sentence, having admitted being concerned in the production of cannabis.
He was aided in court by a Lithuanian interpreter.
The court heard he was watering the plants since mid 2022 to pay off his own £4,000 cocaine debt.
He was being given £50 a week for his food. He had no previous criminal convictions and had been held in custody since 4 March.
Recorder Debra Powell KC said: “This was a sophisticated growing operation but there is no evidence you set it up.”
She sentenced him to 20 months in prison suspended for 18 months. He must complete 200 hours’ unpaid work and attend 15 rehabilitation sessions.
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