A 44-year-old Albanian man who tried to flee a 'large scale' cannabis factory that he had been looking after in Cheltenham has been jailed for twenty months.

Bashkim Hajdari, of no fixed abode, was one of two men seen by the police saw through a window of the property in New Street, Cheltenham, where 'every room' had been converted for the cultivation of the class B drug.

Prosecutor Chris Smyth told Judge Jason Taylor QC at Gloucester crown court that both men tried to flee by jumping over a fence at the rear of the address. One unknown male got away but the other, Hajdari, was detained and arrested.

Jailing him for twenty months Judge Taylor said it was 'a large scale sophisticated operation, with high potential yield'.

The court heard that the police arrived at 49 New Street, Cheltenham in the mid afternoon on 4th February this year, having received information that cannabis was being grown.

A front window was open, and they heard voices inside.

"Officers looked in and could see two males who appeared to be of Eastern European origin in what seemed to be a bedroom in the front room," the prosecutor said.

"The occupants closed the bedroom window. Moments later police heard a commotion from the rear. It sounded like the crashing of fencing.

"They ran to the back of the address and saw the two males jumping over the fence at the rear.

"They were able to detain one of them, who turned out to be this defendant. He was arrested for production of cannabis.

"A search revealed that every room had been converted into a space to grow cannabis plants.

"Five adapted growing rooms across the basement, ground floor, first floor and loft space.

"Each had timer units, lighting, extractors, reflective wall lining, nutrients and each were full of adult cannabis plants."

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Mr Smyth said there was evidence of previous harvests at the address.

"It had been well secured with specialist barricades built into all doors and windows.

"Every access point was covered by CCTV camera. That was linked into a monitor in the living quarters where the defendants had originally been seen."

A total of 152 plants were recovered, with an estimated yield of between 4 to 12 kg of the drug.

The prosecutor said this had gave a range of a street value between £45,000 to £121,000.

Mr Smyth said Hajdari had no previous convictions recorded.

"He fully admitted to the management of the cannabis plants in police interview," the barrister said.

"He originally come from Albania. He was here illegally, and was sent to that address by a male he met in Belgium.

"He had been at the address since November. He had been taking care of the plants on a day to day basis.

"He suggested he received no money."

Judge Taylor said: "I find that hard to believe."

Defence lawyer, Eugene Hickey said: "The real mitigation is of course his guilty plea at the first opportunity and his admissions in interview.

"He is 44 years of age, with two children in Albania living with his partner.

"He is a farming labourer. The attraction was free rent.

"He was told it would be somewhat better than working at a car wash.

"He acknowledges he would have received a sum of money after the harvest.

"Clearly he will be deported on conclusion of the sentence," Mr Hickey concluded.

Imposing the jail term, the judge said: "The entire property had been converted into a cannabis factory. Clearly a professional operation.

"You were looking after the plants as the gardener.

"You must have had an understanding and awareness of the scale of the operation, but there is no influence on those above you in the chain.

"You deliberately came to this country knowing you would be growing cannabis illegally.

"It was a large scale sophisticated operation, with high potential yield."