Two drug offenders caught at "cannabis factory" in South Yorkshire

Hamit Ademaj, aged 29, and Albert Noka, aged 20, were arrested after police entered the property on Ferham Park Avenue, Bradgate, Rotherham, and found about 120 cannabis plants with growing equipment, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing on February 23.

Zaiban Alam, prosecuting, said two police officers entered the open porch door and as they tried to open a living room door a third unnamed man escaped but Noka was restrained and Ademaj was apprehended.

Judge Sarah Wright told the Albanian defendants: “In April, of last year, you were both apprehended at a house in Rotherham where there was a substantial, sophisticated, commercial cannabis grow.”

Ms Alam said some windows and the rear door of the property had been sealed with breeze blocks and police found growing equipment and approximately 120 cannabis plants in two bedrooms with an estimated yield of £66,000.

She said: “This house was effectively a cannabis factory.”

Noka told police he had been a gardener and Ademaj said he had been in London and had only recently arrived in Rotherham and he had been told to build a wall.

Noka, who has previous convictions, and Ademaj, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to being concerned with the production of the class B drug cannabis after the discovery on April 1.

Andrew Swaby, defending, said Noka had been desperate to make a living and he has applied to remain in the country.

Mr Swaby added Noka’s family had been in opposition to the Albanian government and his life was at risk so he came to the UK when he was 14-years-old and he stayed in foster care until he was 18-years-old.

Rebecca Tanner, defending, said Ademaj came to the UK illegally but he had hoped to find legitimate building work.

The court heard the defendants, both of no fixed abode, have each spent time remanded in custody.

Judge Wright sentenced Ademaj to 12 months of custody but noted any time spent on remand would count towards that sentence.

She sentenced Noka to a 12 month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work.

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