Dad jailed after 1,000 cannabis plants found at Rochester Crescent home in Hoo

A dad has been jailed after police discovered a five-bedroom home being used as a cannabis farm.

More than 1,000 plants were discovered spread between all the rooms, apart from the kitchen.

That’s where Amarildo Imeri had been living for two weeks while he kept an eye on the cannabis cultivation and watered the plants.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how on May 31 a search warrant was carried out at the property in Rochester Crescent, Hoo, at around 8.50pm.

Prosecutor Elisenda Mitchell explained how an officer went into the back garden to try and get in the back door but someone, later identified as Imeri, let them in.

The 32-year-old was charged with abstracting electricity and the production of a class B drug. He admitted the drugs charge and the other was dropped.

Inside the detached house - thought to be worth £500,000-plus - police found a makeshift bed in the kitchen, the only room not being used to grow cannabis.

In total, there were 1,069 plants – including 479 baby plants – across nine rooms.

Ms Mitchell added: “Officers concluded that as there was only one bed in the kitchen there was just one person staying at the property.

“There was ducting for ventilation, overhead lights and cabling throughout which would have come at significant time and finance.”

Nathan Fitzpatrick, defending Imeri, told the court how the Albanian-born father-of-one had no previous convictions and had come to the country in 2022 to provide financially for his ill father and mother.

He added: “The defendant was approached by a group of men in the area who offered work, accommodation and food.”

Mr Fitzpatrick said at the time of the offer, Imeri did not know the work would be something illegal and he had no part in setting up the cannabis farm but only watered the plants.

The barrister added how Imeri was reportedly told there were cameras in the property watching him and threats were made to make sure he did not leave.

He added: “He was somewhat vulnerable due to his employment and immigration status.”

Sentencing Imeri, Recorder Vivian Walters said the defendant was a part of a “sophisticated set up” which was created to “maximise the production of 1,000 cannabis plants”.

Imeri was sentenced to 36 weeks in prison after his early guilty plea was considered. His time spent on remand since May 31 will also count towards his sentence.

The cannabis plants and drug paraphernalia found will be destroyed.

At the time, neighbours in Rochester Crescent said the door of the house had been left wide open and a mound of rubbish remained on the driveway days after the arrest.

They added that they were concerned squatters might take up residence as they thought the home was empty and the front door has reportedly been left open for several days.