POLICE who raided a house in Cookley, near Kidderminster, found a cannabis factory with plants and drugs worth up to £367,000 – and the “gardener” hiding in the garage, a court heard.

Mohammed Waqas, a 21-year-old illegal immigrant, admitted being concerned in the production of cannabis but said he played a “lesser role” as gardener at the premises.

He claimed he was given only £100 for looking after the crop and was provided with a white suit to carry out the work.

Recorder Denis Desmond sentenced him at Worcester Crown Court to 12 months in jail, telling him he would serve up to half of the term and spend the rest on licence.

Waqas, of no fixed address, was also ordered to pay £900 costs and £100 victim surcharge.

Recorder Desmond described the set-up at the house in The Crescent, Cookley, as a “sophisticated cannabis factory”.

Stuart Clarkson, prosecuting, said police with a warrant got no reply when they called at the house on April 15 - so they forced their way in.

“They found this defendant in the garage adjoining the house, hiding behind some boxes in a white suit,” said Mr Clarkson.

The officers also found that the electricity supply had been bypassed to get free power and a hydroponics system was set up for the plants, spread around five rooms.

In three of the rooms was harvested cannabis weighing 25kg, with a street value of £257,000.

There were also 130 plants, which could produce drugs with a street value of between £30,000 and £110,000, depending on whether they all grew to maturity.

Waqas told the officers he lived at an address in Welford Road, Birmingham, but the people living there denied knowing him.

He said he was an illegal immigrant and had been brought to Cookley that day, adding he did not open the door to the police because he panicked.

Trevor Meegan, defending, told the court that Waqas had been living in Sparkhill, Birmingham, and he was taken by another man to Cookley to be the “gardener” for the cannabis.

He now wished to go back to Pakistan as soon as possible – and he may get his wish as Mr Clarkson said that, if he was jailed for a year or more he would face being deported.