An English court has sentenced a 22-year-old Albanian man to 1 year in prison for cannabis cultivation. Eridon Hasanpapaj was caught growing cannabis plants which if put on the market would be worth 50 thousand euros.

Hasanpapaj said in court that he owed money to people who had smuggled him into the UK and thus had to work in drug cultivation to get his money back. When police raided the 'bar house', they found two bedrooms on the top floor of the building equipped with lighting, fans and a timer, while the electricity meter had been removed, thus stealing electricity. Hasanpapaj was found alone in the apartment during the police search, write the English media. 

A wallet and an identity card were seized from him. Although he made no comment to police when interviewed, with the help of an Albanian translator, the 22-year-old defendant, who had no previous convictions, admitted to producing a Class B drug. 

"He was indebted to those who brought him to this country and he was approached by some people in London who did not speak Albanian. They told him to get in a car and then took him to the building where the cannabis was growing. He was instructed on what to do when he got home. Given the debt, he felt that he had no choice but to follow the instructions given to him," said his lawyer. The court sentenced the 22-year-old Albanian to 1 year in prison and then he will be deported to Albania.