A CANNABIS farmer was caught in a house packed with more than 100 fully-grown plants.

Albanian Aurel Marco had been looking after the crop at the Georgina Court address for three months and the plants were almost ready to harvest.

At Bolton Crown Court he was jailed for 12 months after admitting producing cannabis and stealing electricity.

Brian Williams, prosecuting, told how police, with a warrant, raided the property on November 5.

“Police officers knocked on the door and there was no answer but they could see movement in the house and so they forced an entry,” said Mr Williams.

Marco, aged 24, was found inside on his own with three rooms upstairs full of 104 grown cannabis plants and a further room downstairs packed with saplings.

No value was given for the plants but Mr Williams stated that there would have been significant commercial profit when harvested and sold.

The farmer had a bedroom at the house, food and drink and officers found two sets of keys to the property.

“It clearly indicated someone was living and sleeping at the property,” said Mr Williams.

On further inspection police discovered that the electricity meter had been bypassed in order to provide power for the crop’s hydroponics system.

“This indicates a degree of professionalism,” said Mr Williams.

When arrested Marco, who has no previous convictions, refused to answer police questions.

Mark Fireman, defending, stressed that Marco was being paid a small amount to look after the plants for others.

“This was not his operation and he was acting under direction of others,” he said.

“It follows from that that the profits from this operation would not principally have gone to him.”

Mr Fireman told Recorder Sarah Johnston that Marco had only been in the UK for five months when he committed the offence and his immigration status is not clear.

Jailing Marco, Recorder Johnston told him: “There were plainly enough plants for significant profit.

“Your motivation for this offending was for financial reward.

“Your role in this offending is an important one in terms of cannabis being produced for consumption on our streets.”