An Albanian illegal immigrant who was working as a gardener at cannabis factory in Houghton Regis faces deportation.
Liridon Ademaj, 20, was caught when residents in Elm Park Close told the police there was a strong smell of cannabis coming from the house.
Prosecutor Douglas Page told St Albans Crown Court that officers raided the property on June 2, 2023 this year and arrested Ademaj.
Three bedrooms, the lounge and the dining room had been turned over to the production of the drug.
The attic space was in the process of being converted into a growing room. In all, there were 80 adult plants and 20 young plants, all in good condition.
The potential yield of the crop was £15,000 to £75,000.
If there were four harvests a year it could be worth between £60,000 and £300,000, said Mr Page.
Ademaj, of no fixed address, appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of cannabis.
He was aided in court by an Albanian interpreter. Defending, Andrew Corcut said Ademaj had been brought into the country illegally and was working as a gardener at the factory to pay off his debt to the people smugglers.
“He had a limited role. He did not set up the operation and was there only to tend to the plants,” he said.
Mr Corcu said Ademaj had expressed his remorse for getting involved. He said he hoped to return to – something that would happen if he received a sentence of 12 months or more. Recorder Elroy Claxton jailed him for 12 months.
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