Mike Tapp says the UK will still need migrant workers ‘to keep the country going'
By George Bunn
Published: 02/12/2024
Mei Yong Chen and Zhigang Jia were both in the UK illegally when they were arrested
A pair of illegal migrants have been caught tending to cannabis plants inside a former dog grooming parlour in Derbyshire.
Mei Yong Chen and Zhigang Jia were both in the UK illegally when police snared them in Bath Street, Ilkeston.
Nottingham Crown Court heard how the pair tried to escape from officers but were quickly caught nearby.
Keys found on one of them led to a nearby former Chinese takeaway where more of the class B substance was found to be growing in the rooms.
Mei Yong Chen was jailed for 18 months
Nottinghamshire Police
Phillip Plant, prosecuting, said police attended the ex-dog grooming parlour on June 13, this year.
He told the court as they looked through the windows at the rear they saw both defendants "hurriedly dressing" and attempted to arrest them.
Chen was caught running down some stairs carrying clothing with £600 on him and Jia ran from the property and was caught in the street.
Pant said: "He had £350 on him, a mobile phone, SIM cards and some keys. Those keys led to a second property in Bath Street – a former Chinese takeaway – and inside that there was also a large grow.
"At the first property there were 556 plants in four rooms which the expert says would produce a yield of between 15kg and 46kg worth wholesale between £55,000 and £211,000. In the second property there were a further 311 plants with a potential yield worth £33,000 to £117,000."
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Zhigang Jia was jailed for 15 months
Derbyshire Police
Both men pleaded guilty to production of cannabis.
Jia, 40, of Bath Street, was jailed for 15 months as he entered his plea on an earlier date to his co-defendant.
Gregor Purcell, mitigating, said: “He came to the UK in 2017 on a tourist visa and wishes to stay. He has been in custody for six months and, as a non-English seeker, is finding it difficult.”
Chen, 48, of Bath Street, was jailed for 18 months. Chris Brewin, his barrister, said: “He has a wife and children back in China and he is still in touch with them."
The pair were snared in Bath Street, Ilkeston (file pic)Google MapsJudge James Sampson said: “You were both involved in the commercial production of cannabis and these grows, both individually and taken together, were capable of yielding between £50,000 and £200,000.
"Neither one of you is present in this country legally and I work on the basis that you have no previous convictions in this or any other country.
"You both claim to be gardeners, acting under direction, and I sentence you on that basis. You had a lesser role in this but it was an essential role as without you these grows would not have been possible. You were far from prisoners. There was money around, telephones and a well-stocked larder."
The Home Office will determine if they are to be deported upon release.
Nottingham Crown Court heard how the pair tried to escape from officers but were quickly caught nearby.
Keys found on one of them led to a nearby former Chinese takeaway where more of the class B substance was found to be growing in the rooms.
Mei Yong Chen was jailed for 18 months
Nottinghamshire Police
Phillip Plant, prosecuting, said police attended the ex-dog grooming parlour on June 13, this year.
He told the court as they looked through the windows at the rear they saw both defendants "hurriedly dressing" and attempted to arrest them.
Chen was caught running down some stairs carrying clothing with £600 on him and Jia ran from the property and was caught in the street.
Pant said: "He had £350 on him, a mobile phone, SIM cards and some keys. Those keys led to a second property in Bath Street – a former Chinese takeaway – and inside that there was also a large grow.
"At the first property there were 556 plants in four rooms which the expert says would produce a yield of between 15kg and 46kg worth wholesale between £55,000 and £211,000. In the second property there were a further 311 plants with a potential yield worth £33,000 to £117,000."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Zhigang Jia was jailed for 15 months
Derbyshire Police
Both men pleaded guilty to production of cannabis.
Jia, 40, of Bath Street, was jailed for 15 months as he entered his plea on an earlier date to his co-defendant.
Gregor Purcell, mitigating, said: “He came to the UK in 2017 on a tourist visa and wishes to stay. He has been in custody for six months and, as a non-English seeker, is finding it difficult.”
Chen, 48, of Bath Street, was jailed for 18 months. Chris Brewin, his barrister, said: “He has a wife and children back in China and he is still in touch with them."
Judge James Sampson said: “You were both involved in the commercial production of cannabis and these grows, both individually and taken together, were capable of yielding between £50,000 and £200,000.
"Neither one of you is present in this country legally and I work on the basis that you have no previous convictions in this or any other country.
"You both claim to be gardeners, acting under direction, and I sentence you on that basis. You had a lesser role in this but it was an essential role as without you these grows would not have been possible. You were far from prisoners. There was money around, telephones and a well-stocked larder."
The Home Office will determine if they are to be deported upon release.