A man involved in ‘professional criminality’ at three separate cannabis farms in Bradford has been jailed for three years.

Michal Budzinski was caught in charge at the drugs grows capable of yielding 17 kilos of cannabis with a total street value of £128,000.

Prosecutor Abigail Langford told Bradford Crown Court today that the first cannabis farm, in Ashby Street, East Bowling, comprising 45 plants, would have produced 4.2 kilos of the drug worth £36,000.

Budzinski, who pleaded guilty three offences of production of cannabis, was involved with that one between December, 2019, and March, 2020.

He was then in charge of a grow in Melrose Street, Great Horton, on September 13 last year.

Miss Langford said that crop of 93 plants would have yielded 4.3 kilos of cannabis with a street value of £39,942.

Budzinski, 35, was then arrested at his address in Bowling Old Lane, Bradford, on October 2 where there was a third cannabis farm. This time he was remanded in custody and sentenced on a video link to HMP Leeds.

The court heard that this 70-plant operation would have produced 8.9 kilos of the drug worth £52,000.

Miss Langford said each of the three sophisticated set-ups was capable of producing significant quantities of cannabis.

Stephen Welford said in mitigation that Budzinski was a hardworking man willing to turn his hand to many different jobs over the years. He was spoken of very highly by his mother, partner and sister.

He had become addicted to cocaine and because of his abilities he was recruited to help to grow the cannabis. The operations were not his and there was no evidence of any significant financial gain by him.

He sold the drug because that was part of his role. When people asked for it, he had to provide it.

Recorder Tahir Khan QC said that Budzinski was involved with three separate cannabis farms at three different addresses.

His must have been a significant role in the operation and been in it for significant financial gain.

“This is serious offending and there is absolutely no alternative but the imposition of an immediate sentence of custody of some length,” Recorder Khan said.

Budzinski was of previous good character but this wasn’t an isolated lapse it was a de-liberate involvement in serious and professional criminality.

He was jailed for three years for each offence, the sentences to run concurrently.