TWO men who grew cannabis with a street value of £500,000 between them have been jailed for a total of 40 months.

The pair, Ervis Roci and Edi Kotorri, originally from Albania, were caught after a raid on two neighbouring terraced houses in Bradford last month.

Bradford Crown Court heard how police entered 6 Firth Road in Manningham, on May 27, at 7.40am after a number of reports that cannabis was being grown at the house.

Prosecutor Clare Walsh described how a cannabis growing operation was found on three floors of the house, and officers noticed access to the neighbouring house, number 8, could be gained through the loft.

They entered 8 Firth Road to discover a similar operation over two floors of that house.

Kottori was arrested from the living room of number 8, and Roci was found hiding in the top of the chimney in number 6.

They pleaded guilty to producing cannabis - a controlled class b drug and were sentenced to 20 months in prison each.

Judge David Hatton QC described their roles as significant, adding: "You each individually were area of the size of the operation which was taking place in the premises in which you worked. Not only were you aware of the size of the operation in your individual properties, you both were placed in a position of trust and had the sole responsibility for keeping the plants alive."

He added that he took into account that their involvement did not last a great length of time.

Ms Walsh detailed how a total of 158 mature cannabis plants and 218 younger plants were found in number 6, with a potential street value of £300,000 to £350,000. There were 96 mature cannabis plants and 90 younger plants found at number 8, with a street value of £180,000.

In addition there were high intensity heating units and ventilation equipment, and the plants were being watered by hand.

Ms Walsh said Kotorri admitted in police interview to watering the plants and controlling the lights.

Despite the cannabis growing operations being next door to one another, it emerged in court that Roci and Kottori did not know one another, and had been unaware there was a similar operation in the neighbouring property.

Ms Walsh added: "They must have had some awareness of the scale of the operation and an expectation of significant financial or other advantage."

Thomas Rushbrook, for Roci, said he had only arrived in the UK illegally earlier this year.

"He came to this country because he was told he would get assistance for an eye condition, Mr Rushbrook said.

"He fully accepts he was involved in looking after the cannabis grow. He was like a gardener-cum-minder. It was all set up. His financial reward was to get assistance to have the operation for his eye condition."

John Bottomley, for Kotorri, said his client denied any knowledge of the other property, the other defendant and the operation being carried out next door.

"He was put into debt by travelling to the UK and was then told afterwards that he owed £21,000. He tried to leave and was threatened. He contacted his father to see if he could sell his property in Albania."

Of his role he added: "His function was only to water the plants and switch on and off the lights. It had all been set up for him."