Yahoo News Suspiciously hot house in Northumberland led police to cannabis farm
Suspicious amounts of heat coming from a house led police to a cannabis farm.
Police went to a house on Fenkle Street, in Alnwick, Northumberland, on January 10 this after becoming aware of a significant amount of heat coming from the roof and chimney. They found "gardener" Tran Thyong in a makeshift bedroom on the ground floor.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "Four rooms were found to contain a large number of cannabis plants at various stages of growth. The electricity supply had been bypassed and was providing heat and light to the rooms."
There were 110 young plants around 30cm tall on the landing, 25 plants around 90cm tall on the first floor, 90 stems hanging from the ceiling drying on the second floor and 70 plants around 90cm tall in the loft.
The court heard Thyong had been trafficked to the UK from Vietnam and made to work in the cannabis farm to pay off the debt for bringing him here. Mr Ahmad said: "He admitted producing cannabis by tending to the plants and said he was scared for his family and that he would be harmed if he didn't tend to them. He said he was scared to leave."
The 40-year-old pleaded guilty to producing cannabis on the basis he was a "gardener" acting under instruction and played no role in setting up the farm. He was jailed for six months.
Lorraine Mustard, defending, said he has served four months in custody and is keen to return to Vietnam. She added that his wife is ill.
