Drug farmers jailed over cannabis farm in South Yorkshire

Officers forced their way into a house on Sheffield Road, Hoyland, on January 21, where they detained Vasile Vasilache and his partner Gabriella Zancanu as they were trying to leave.

Prosecutor James Baird said "sophisticated" cannabis set-ups were found in two bedrooms with high-powered lights, fans, a filter system and a timer unit.

A large quantity of the drug was being dried out on lines and 56 cannabis root balls were found in sealed sacks.

In the attic there was another set-up with five saplings.

When Vasile's brother Constantin arrived, police recovered a "Rambo-style" knife, with a large serrated blade, from the boot of his Fiat Punto.

His mobile revealed links to another address on Upper Sheffield Road, Barnsley, where officers found large cannabis set-ups in the loft, and two bedrooms.

There were 70 mature cannabis plants in the loft, 29 in the rear bedroom and 19 in the front.

The brothers made no comment, while Zancanu said she and Vasile had been acting as "gardeners," Mr Baird added.

Constantin, 33, Vasile, 34, and Zancanu, 46, all of Sheffield Road, Hoyland, Barnsley, admitted cannabis production and Constantin admitted possession of a knife.

On Thursday, Sheffield Crown Court heard all three Romanian nationals have no previous convictions in this country.

Richard Baradell, for Constantin, said: "He is very sorry and remorseful for getting involved in this crime.

"He didn't realise it was a crime to have a knife like that in the UK. He will not be coming back to the UK, he is desperate to get home."

Adam Walker, for Vasile, said: "He considers himself to be an honest and hardworking man who fell on hard times.

"He was preyed upon by someone who knew of his difficulties.

Rebecca Stevens said Zancanu made admissions straight away, had a limited role in the offence and had already spent three months in custody.

Judge Peter Kelson QC handed Constantin 18 months, adding four months for the blade, to be served consecutively, and gave Vasile 18 months and Zancanu 16 months.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to The Star website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor