Greek national caught watering his North Tyneside cannabis farm put behind bars
A Greek national caught watering plants at this quarter million pound cannabis farm in a purpose built industrial unit has been put behind bars and faces deportation.
Sergio Tzaro came to the UK to work and pay off his debts but was "unhappy" with how much he earned in the construction industry so took up an offer of looking after the illegal plants to make money.
Police raided the unit, in North Shields, North Tyneside, in May and shocking video footage shows 1,000 plants growing across several rooms that have been kitted out with heavy-duty plastic sheeting, LED lighting, ventilation and heating systems.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the plants that were seized could have produced up to 80 kilos of cannabis, worth up to £246,000.
Tzaro, 23, of no fixed address, admitted producing cannabis on the basis he had been at the farm for just ten days before it was raided by the police.
Mr Recorder Anthony Dunne sentenced him to 18 months and said he faces automatic deportation.
The recorder told Tzaro: "It seems you came to this country from Greece to attempt to pay off debts.
"You were unhappy with the amount you were able to earn working in construction and so you took up the opportunity, a suggestion that was made to you that you could make more money by looking after a cannabis growing operation.
"You had been looking after the operation for 10 days before the police intervention, who closed down the cannabis grow and arrested you.
"This was a large scale operation you were looking after, it was in an industrial unit and there were over 1,000 plants at various stages of growth .
"The cannabis that could have been produced could have been up to 80 kilos, with a potential value running into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
"This was much more than a typical house being used to grow cannabis."
Sophie Johnstone, defending, told the court: "He effectively assumed the role of gardener during the commission of the offence.
"He was involved for a very short period of time.”
"He just wants to go back home to Greece. He hopes to return there and start legitimate work.
"His parents are relatively elderly and suffer with health problems.
"He acknoweldges his wrongdoing and is remorseful."