A 39 year old Albanian man, in the UK illegally, was caught working as a 'gardener' at a cannabis farm in a terraced house in Gloucester, a court heard.

Shpetim Hysenlikaj, of no fixed abode, was arrested at the address in Sidney Street on 30th November last year, prosecutor Brendan Moorhouse told Gloucester crown court.

'Every living room in the house had been converted into cannabis growing areas," Mr Moorhouse told the judge, Recorder Marcus Pilgerstorfer.

In total there were 166 cannabis plants found at varying stages of maturity, he said.

The prosecutor described it as a 'rolling' cannabis factory, and the police estimated that the potential street value of the plants could be as high as £132,720.

It was a professional setup, Mr Moorhouse said with 'commercial lighting and reflective material'.

He added: "The electrics to the house had been bypassed."

The court heard that the police took the view that Hysenlikaj was a 'gardener' and not high up in the criminal chain.

Mr Moorhouse confirmed that Hysenlikaj had no convictions in the UK, and had already been served with a deportation notice.

Defence lawyer, Gareth James said: "He is an Albanian man who came to this country at some stage last summer.

"He was able to find work, and worked through until the Autumn.

"Unfortunately that work dried up due to poorer weather, and he was unable to support himself.

"He made enquiries of work for the winter, and was offered accommodation at the property in question."

Mr James said 'there came a time' when Hysenlikaj was asked to fertilise and care for the plants.

"That was very much at the request and instruction of those above him in the chain," the lawyer said..

"This was an operation capable of producing a significant quantity, but not industrial quantities.

"He became involved due to naivety and his situation. He has been used by others within the Albanian community.

"Having fallen upon hard times, he was used.

"It was not the largest scale operation you will ever come across," Mr James suggested.

"It is a two up two down terraced house."

The judge agreed but also added: "Equally it could be said it is not the smallest."

Jailing him for twelve months, the judge said he accepted that 'you fell into abuse by others within the Albanian community.

"Nonetheless this was a significant, ongoing, large scale operation," the judge noted.

"You may be liable to automatic deportation as a foreign criminal," he concluded.