A “considerable and significant” cannabis farm was discovered after a police raid at a house in which a “gardener” was also found.

Officers were sent to a semi-detached home on Hampshire Close in Bury at around 8am on Wednesday, December 13 and tried knocking on the door, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court was told.

But after there was no answer, police broke into the house and found 40-year-old Admir Doku lying on a bed before seeing the home had been turned into a “sophisticated” cannabis farm, the court heard.

Prosecutor Nicholas Roxborough said 142 cannabis plants were found along with 1kg of skunk cannabis worth around £1,000, and it was estimated that tens of thousands of pounds worth of the drug could be produced there a year.

Ahead of moving to the home, Doku, an Albanian national, said he had met compatriots in a café and was offered a job as a “gardener” in the role of producing cannabis and was paid £700 during his time there.

Doku said that cannabis making system was already set up when he arrived and he was brought food by men during his time there.

Doku, who pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and abstracting electricity, had no previous convictions.

READ NEXT > The names and faces of Bury's most wanted

Bury Times: Part of the cannabis farm found in the housePart of the cannabis farm found in the house (Image: Greater Manchester Police)

The court was told he had taken the job “out of desperation” and that £500 of the money the defendant received had been sent back to Albania, with some of it used to help pay for a relative’s hospital treatment.

It was also accepted that he did not play a major role in the management of the criminal activity.

READ NEXT > 'Disgraceful' threats sent to ex-partner before imitation guns and zombie knife found

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to the Bury Times morning newsletter as well as our breaking news alerts

Bury Times: Manchester Minshull Street Crown CourtManchester Minshull Street Crown Court (Image: Public) 

Although Recorder Joseph Hart accepted Doku’s personal circumstances, he reminded him that “every room” in the home was being used for cultivating cannabis.

Recorder Hart said: “The house was a considerable and significant cannabis farm, it was being powered by stolen electricity.

“You were the only man there and you were arrested.

“You were aware what you were doing was illegal. You were helping significant offending.”

Recorder Hart handed Doku a nine-month sentence.