A MAN caught guarding a “substantial and expensive” cannabis farm in Bradford has been jailed for 12 months.

Aldenis Cela, 25, an Albanian national, will be deported back to his homeland after serving his prison sentence, Bradford Crown Court heard this week.

Cela was found sitting on a bed at a house in Bolton Road, Bradford, that had been converted into cannabis factory.

The property contained 253 mature plants and 200 “baby” plants, the court heard on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of cannabis on October 21 last year.

The court heard that police officers climbed ladders to look into the bedroom windows.

They then broke into the property.

Cela told officers he had been brought to the UK and taken to the house to tend the crop after being unable to find work.

Judge Jonathan Rose said Cela was “down on his luck” at the time.

The judge said Cela had agreed to be a gardener for the “substantial and expensive” cannabis crop.

The judge said he understood that he would welcome being deported back to Albania.