Illegal immigrant locked-up after police discovered over 300 cannabis plants at Sheffield property

Sheffield Crown Court heard on July 15, how Ervis Cangoja, aged 20, of no fixed abode, was arrested after police raided a property on City Road, The Manor, Sheffield, and discovered 331 cannabis plants in five rooms.

Neil Coxon, prosecuting, said: “They located a total of 331 suspected cannabis plants. They were in five separate rooms at various stages of growth.”

Police found the defendant in the attic during the raid on June 16 and they also discovered £94.61 in cash, a mobile phone and that the electricity system seemed to have been by-passed.

Cangoja, who has no previous convictions in the UK, pleaded guilty to producing 331 class B drug cannabis plants.

Clarkson Baptiste, defending, said: “He had played a lesser role. He was in the position of a gardener. He played no organisational role in setting-up the growth.”

Mr Coxon and Mr Baptiste confirmed Cangoja, who had an Albanian interpreter, is an illegal immigrant.

Judge Rachael Harrison told Cangoja: “I accept you were a gardener, but you – in the house – had food, drink and were free to come and go from the house and in my view that increases the starting point of the sentence.”

Judge Harrison sentenced Cangoja to nine-months of custody. She added that she assumed Cangoja would be deported upon his release due to his immiration status.