An Albanian man who came to the UK illegally was caught looking after a Tyneside cannabis farm after being released from an immigration detention centre.

Marenglen Toslluku had entered the county in a lorry years ago and, after spells working, ended up in a detention centre. Newcastle Crown Court heard that, for reasons which were not explained, he ended up being released without any means and without documents he had previously used to get employment.

As a consequence, he turned to some follow Albanians he had met in the centre and they sent him to tend to a cannabis farm in Gateshead. Police went to a property on the town's Westbourne Avenue on June 12 this year in response to a report of a suspected cannabis farm.

When they got there, Toslluku, 35, was leaving and he made off but was caught after a short foot chase and found to have keys to the front door. When they went in, police found a cannabis farm across several rooms, with 170 plants and evidence of a previous crop. The electricity supply had also been bypassed.

Toslluku pleaded guilty to producing cannabis on the basis he had been at the property for around 12 days before his arrest and that he was acting as a "gardener" and did not set up the farm.

Passing sentence, Judge Carolyn Scott said: "You came to the UK some years ago illegally. You were placed in immigration detention and when released from detention you had no means whatsoever to live.

"You therefore agreed to work for some Albanians you had met in the centre and you were transported to Newcastle and placed within the property which held the cannabis farm and were asked to water the plants and turn the lights on at certain points during the day."

The judge said the fact it was in a residential area was an aggravating factor as it exposed residents to the risk of harm.

Toslluku, of Cline Road, London, was jailed for 32 weeks, but because of the time he has served on remand will be eligible for release from prison either immediately or very soon.

Rachel Hedworth, defending, said: "He was not lawfully in this country. He came to this country some years ago, he arrived in a lorry."

Miss Hedworth said Toslluku had previously worked in the construction industry in London and Manchester before ending up in a deportation centre in Scotland. However he was then released from there without the documentation needed to work.

She added that he had come to the UK after developing a gambling addiction and getting into debt in Albania.

Miss Hedworth said Toslluku has found being remanded in custody since June difficult as he doesn't speak English. She added: "He would like to be deported back home as soon as possible.

"He is extremely sorry for his offending behaviour. He is utterly remorseful."