Court hears illegal immigrant injured when he jumped from second floor of cannabis farm
An illegal immigrant was badly injured when he jumped out of a second floor window to escape police who had raided a cannabis farm he was working at.
Officers had been called to the Cattle Market three-storey building in Hexham, Northumberland, in May after builders carrying our renovations on the ground floor became suspicious about wires overheating.
Newcastle Crown Court heard when Minh Nguyen realised police had forced entry through a locked door on the second floor he jumped out of the window.
The 45-year-old Vietnamese national was found barefoot and injured in a nearby bin storage area. A cannabis farm, containing 350 plants, worth up to £80,00, was found in four growing areas across two upper floors of the commercial building.
Pictures show dozens of the illegal plants in sophisticated growing areas equipped with lighting, ventilation and heating.
Nguyen, who entered the UK illegally, admitted being concerned in the production of cannabis and has today been jailed for eight months and now faces deportatation.
Prosecutor Gurjot Kaur told the court: "His basis of plea confirms he entered the UK in 2021 as an illegal immigrant.
"He was subsequently introduced, via some Vietnamese associates, to two unknown foreign males."
The defendant was told in exchange for looking after the plants he would be provided with accommodation and food. "He had been at the property for three days prior to his arrest. He was told he wasn't allowed to leave.
"He flew into a state of panic when the police arrived and in terror jumped out of a window, badly injuring himself in the process."
Miss Kaur said the plants that were seized, which were at varying stages of growth, had a potential yield of up to 27.8 kilos of cannabis, worth up to £83,400.
The court heard Nguyen has no previous convictions.
Mr Recorder Anthony Dunne told him: "You were put into this cannabis farm and you were employed to look after the plants that were growing there.
"However within a few days the police had been called, they entered the cannabis farm and you were arrested.
"You injured yourself in your attempts to escape before the police could arrest you."The recorder added: "There were about 350 plants in this operation with a potential yield worth on the street up to about £80,000."
Recorder Dunne said Nguyen may now be detained by the immigration authorities.