A man caught tending a 337 plant cannabis farm at an address in Bradford’s Lidget Green had his case adjourned after claiming he was trafficked into the country and compelled to work there.

Marco Cela, 37, an Albanian national, will now be sentenced on June 9 after seeing his solicitor again.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the cannabis farm on Horton Grange Road was a sophisticated operation capable of producing commercial quantities of the drug.

Cela, who is on remand in HMP Doncaster, has pleaded guilty to production of cannabis on January 27.

Today, Recorder Kate Batty adjourned the case for an hour-long Newton Hearing, or trial of the issue, to resolve Cela’s role in the drugs operation.

She said the Crown needed to be clear on what he was asserting because he had earlier claimed he was a victim of modern slavery.

He will have the opportunity to give evidence at the hearing with the assistance of an interpreter.

Recorder Batty directed that an amended basis of plea be prepared ahead of the case.