TWO men who originally came to the UK as illegal immigrants have been jailed for their part in helping to produce a cannabis factory in Bradford.

Shpetim Marku, 23, and Elisiado Marku, 22, have each been sentenced after a large quantity of cannabis was found at a house in Summer Hill Street, Lidget Green, Bradford.

Police searched the property after they received reports of loud banging and the smell of cannabis could be detected.

Both men were found by officers at the property during their search, where a significant amount of cannabis was found. Dried cannabis was also found at the scene.

Elisiado Marku also faced a further charge of assault by beating of an emergency worker.

He resisted arrest at the scene when the search was carried out and ran away from the property.

He then pushed a police officer, who pursued him, into a parked vehicle. He kicked the same police officer, who fell to the ground. The officer sustained an injury to his right hand and suffered a lump to his head.

The incidents took place on January 31, 2022, Bradford Crown Court heard on Monday, March 14.

Both men appeared via video link from prison for the hearing and spoke via an Albanian translator.

Kristian Cavanagh, prosecuting, said: “A search of the house found a large quantity of cannabis.

“Electricity had been bypassed. It was capable of producing significant quantities of cannabis there.

“They were living at the property in what appears to be fairly primitive conditions.”

In mitigation for Shpetim Marku, the court heard he had been in the UK for 12 months as an illegal immigrant. He had paid £10,000 for individuals who could facilitate him arriving into the UK from Spain.

He was paid for his work at the cannabis factory and he was sending money that he earned back to his native country.

In mitigation for Elisiado Marku, the court heard he had come to the UK three years ago as an illegal immigrant.

He had been financially supporting his wife and children with the work he was carrying out in the incident.

Elisiado and Shpetim Marku, both of Trafford Avenue, Harehills, Leeds, pleaded guilty to the charges against them at an earlier hearing. Elisiado Marku was jailed for 21 months for the two offences he faced, while Shpetim Marku was sentenced to 18 months for the one offence he faced.

Judge Andrew Hatton told the pair: “You worked there as gardeners.

“You will have had some awareness of the scale of the operation, as you were present at the premises.”