A man who was found with a cannabis farm inside an apartment tried to flee police by climbing onto the roof.
The Liverpool Echo reported that Etmond Lika, 32, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link after pleading guilty to one count of being concerned in the production of cannabis.
The prosecutor, Christopher Hopkins, told the court that a locksmith was employed to change the front door of the man’s house located on Stanley Road, Kirkdale.
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Later that day, police arrived at Lika's home and discovered a growing installation of at least 200 cannabis plants.
Hopkins noted it was a ‘plainly a sophisticated operation’.
However, once police began searching the property, prosecutors say Lika attempted to flee by climbing through a skylight and hiding on the roof.
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The 32-year-old was interviewed by police and initially denied he knew anything about the cannabis farm.
He also told authorities he came to the UK via a boat across the channel in September.
Lika allegedly paid €5,000 euros (£4,400, AUD $8,900) for the trip; however, the prosecution insisted that 'the Crown frankly knows nothing else about this defendant’.
“Lika had been employed by somebody to manage or run this installation whether that was tending to the plants or whatever else was required,” Mr Hopskins said, as per outlet.
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He added: “Lika must have been motivated by some significant financial advantage and must have understood what was going on in the house.”
Lika's defence attorney, Olivia Beesley, said the 32-year-old was offered low rent to live in the Kirkdale property after migrating from Albania and had moved to the UK for financial reasons.
She added that Lika had no previous convictions in his home country.
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However, Judge Brian Cummings KC questioned the legitimacy of why Lika had relocated and his background history after suspicion arose from his birthday date.
“There are lots of January 1 birthdays on this class of case,” he said.
“You entered this country illegally, little or nothing is known about you. I note what was said in the case summary by reference to your police interview, and I quote: ‘It was difficult to get an answer out of him, he continuously changed his account throughout the interview’.
“A question mark always raises in my mind when somebody has a January 1 birthday, it seems to be more often than is statistically probable in cases of this class.”
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The man was ultimately sentenced to two years and four months in prison.
Charisa Bossinakis