16/01/2008 00:00:00
UK: Jail for illegal immigrant caught looking after Southport cannabis
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AN ILLEGAL Chinese immigrant caught looking after a cannabis farm in a
bungalow in Birkdale has been jailed for 21 months.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday that the potential yield of the
plants was worth between £40,000 and £60,000.
Jailing Qin Xian He, who admitted cultivating cannabis, Judge John
Phipps said that he accepted that He, who does not speak English, was
the gardener.
It was a sophisticated operation with more than 1,200 young plants but
He had only played a minor role.
“Drugs are a huge problem in this country and cannabis farms are
increasing in this part of the world. People involved in farms such as
this must be made aware that they will receive custodial sentences as a
matter of course,” said Judge Phipps.
Deborah Birrell, prosecuting, said that on August 3 last year police
executed a search warrant at the bungalow on Weld Road, Birkdale and
found what they described as “a cannabis farm.”
The rooms had strip lighting, numerous seed trays and cultivation
paraphernalia, including electric fans and digital scales, plant
nutrients and pressure sprayers.
The electricity supply had been diverted.
He was arrested and later told police through an interpreter that he had
arrived in Britain in 2001 and had worked in restaurants and takeaways
although he did not have a work permit.
Forty-six-year-old He had gone to Manchester looking for a job and was
approached and asked if he was interested in house sitting.
He was offered £160 a week, his food and accommodationŠ and when he
arrived at the premises was offered more if he would water some plants.
When he asked what they were, he was told not to ask any questions.
He thought it was illegal but was desperate because he was in ill health
and so agreed to do it, said Mrs Birrell.
He told police that he had not received any payment, she added. When he
arrived in this country he applied for asylum but never turned up for
his asylum interview.
Andrew Loveridge, defending, said that He had only been involved with
the cannabis farm for two weeks.
He, of no fixed address, had fled China because he owed money lenders
£8,000 and is still fearful for his safety if he is sent back.
Judge Phipps did not make a recommendation but said he would leave it to
the Home Office to decide.
http://icseftonandwestlancs.icnetwork.co.uk/
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=13163
Author:
Southport Visitor via UKCIA
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