Blackpool cannabis farm thwarted by drone that detected excessive heat

Occupant Ramazan Alia, 27, of no fixed abode, was jailed for two years at Preston Crown Court, where he admitted cultivating a class B drug at a three storey property on St Bede's Avenue.

The Albanian national was assisted by an interpreter as he appeared via a video link from HMP Preston.

Prosecuting, Mercedeh Jabbari said police found 79 plants when they carried out a drugs warrant at 2pm on March 18, after drone footage had revealed excessive heat from the property.

She said: " At the time the defendant was just leaving via the back door when he was arrested. He was duly conveyed to the police station.

"On the top floor were two rooms, the entrance to which was covered by plastic sheeting. Upon inspection both rooms contained cannabis plants, a total number of 79.

"They were at the early stages of development. Formally forensics have confirmed it has not been possible to produce a yield estimate of those plants, albeit at maturity such plants might be able to yield around 40 grams per plant.

"The defendant's fingerprints were found on two fans, one in each room.

"The cellar also appeared to have been set up for the same purpose albeit no plants were present. Electricity had been bypassed and other paraphernalia such as transformers gloves and seedlings were found."

The court heard his mobile phone contained instructions on how to grow these plants.

In a police interview he admitted staying at the property at the invitation of a man he met in a pub, but denied involvement, and indicated someone else had used his phone.

He has a previous similar conviction in the Midlands but told officers he was genuinely looking for work as a plasterer on this occasion.

Defending, Richard Archer said he moved to Blackpool to look for work after his release from Birmingham prison, and did not wish to be sent back to Albania because he was involved in a feud.

The Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Mark Brown said the matter was aggravated by his previous conviction, but knocked three months off his sentence to account for the current difficult circumstances in prison.

He said: " I bear in mind the effect of the current pandemic on the prison regime and the fact that serving a prison sentence is likely to be more arduous at the present time."