Illegal immigrant forced to act as a 'gardener' at Shrewsbury cannabis factory is jailed

Viktor Trota had been told to stay at the premises in Belle Vue, Shrewsbury and had been there three months when police raided the property.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday Trota, an Albanian national, was jailed for eight months having admitted being involved in the production of cannabis. The court heard that Trota had been held in custody since his arrest in March and appeared at court via video link from prison.

Judge Peter Barrie told Trota he accepted he had been exploited since his unlawful arrival in the country.

He said he also accepted that despite the high quality of the cannabis crop the defendant was unlikely to have benefited from the substantial profit it would have generated.

Judge Barrie said that the prison sentence was not enough to lead to automatic deportation. However, he was recommending that Trota should be deported because of his illegal entry to the UK and lack of work or family life.

“It is best for you that you return to Albania and make a fresh start,” he said.

The court heard that police found 240 cannabis plants being cultivated in the house in Reabrook Avenue in March this year and Trota was in possession of £537 in cash. Mr Danny Smith, for Trota, said his client had not been involved in setting up the cannabis growing operation and had been acting under duress.

He said that it was not an untypical case and Trota had been used by a man he named as ‘Niko’ who had arranged for him to entry the UK in the back of a lorry.

“As soon as he arrived he was told there was a debt of several thousand pounds and threats were made and his ‘employment’ was arranged,” he said.

He said that Trota had already received notice of his pending deportation which will finally put the chapter of coming to the UK behind him.