Shrewsbury man told to pay back £10,000 over Telford cannabis operation

Kreshnik Gecaj, who was said to be part of a wider conspiracy to grow cannabis in the county, had been a "gardener" at a property used to produce cannabis and had rented another house in a false name for the same purpose.

A Proceeds of Crime hearing yesterday at Shrewsbury Crown Court, heard that he had benefited by £60,000 for his part in the crime. But he was told to pay back £10,000 following a discussion over his assets.

The 31-year-old, of Crowmere Road in Shrewsbury, was jailed for 27 months in February last year after he admitted his part in conspiring to supply cannabis and possession of cocaine.

Mr Charles Crinion, prosecuting, argued Gecaj had £10,000 worth of assets which could be repaid, but Gecaj disputed owning a Porsche worth £7,375.

Giving evidence, he told the court that another man had bought the car and he had accompanied his brother who had driven the Porsche to the owner in Albania during the summer of 2014.

But he admitted the car had been registered in his name since September 2014.

Mr Crinion said: "His account is simply not credible. In effect, this is a hidden asset he sought to keep away from the court."

His other assets included electrical goods and cash.

Judge Peter Barrie said Gecaj's evidence on the issue had been "extremely unsatisfactory and unreliable" and there were inconsistencies in the facts of what happened. He ordered Gecaj to pay £10,000 within three months or risk facing a four-month prison term.

During last year's court hearing, Rehaan Akhter, 24, of Stoke-on-Trent, was also given an eight month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and 125 hours unpaid work for his role for being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

The court had heard that Gecaj became involved after the arrest of 52-year-old Richard Scarborough, of Mount Pleasant Drive, Stirchley, and Tubraiz Ali Khan, 27, of Bishopdale, Brookside, both Telford, in August 2012.

Police had recovered £86,000 in cash and had found cannabis growing at a property in Woodseaves, near Newport.

The court heard that Gecaj was involved with the production of cannabis at his former address in Portobello, Shrewsbury, and had been involved in renting houses in Shawfield Close and Summerhill, at Sutton Hill, Telford, where police recovered hundreds of cannabis plants.

The court heard that Akhter, who had been caught with a "shopping list" of supplies for cannabis production, had been under instruction from Khan, his cousin.

Gecaj, who had a cannabis and cocaine habit, had also been directed by others in the conspiracy.

Scarborough was previously jailed for three years and three months and ordered to forfeit the £86,000. Khan was jailed for three years and nine months for his role.