Police busted a £60,000 cannabis factory in Bradford’s Horton Grange Road after reports of a burglary at the premises, a jury was told.

Drugs squad officers seized 429 cannabis plants from five rooms at the four- bedroom terraced house on February 6, 2008, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

On trial is Vietnamese illegal immigrant Dat Van Tran, 27, who denies being concerned in the production of cannabis.

Prosecutor John Bull said Tran’s fingerprints were found on a mug and a fuse box at the house. His DNA was detected on a cigarette butt in an empty cannabis plant pot.

Tran was arrested on June 1 this year in Chesterfield. He told the police he had no idea he was working in an illegal cannabis factory and escaped from the house when he discovered what was going on.

The trial continues.