Man jailed after being caught tending to cannabis plants

A man has been jailed after officers caught him cropping cannabis plants inside a property in Stoke-on-Trent.

Officers were called to Monsal Grove, Birches Head, on Saturday 1 March after neighbours reported a strong smell of cannabis.

Officers forced entry to the property and caught Amarilinto Mersinllari cropping cannabis plants in one of the upstairs bedrooms.

In total, 189 cannabis plants were seized from the property along with LED lights and transformers.

Mersinllari, 27, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 28 months in jail at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday (15 May) after pleading guilty to the production of a drug of class B – cannabis at an earlier hearing.

We’re working closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to target cannabis grows in council properties, privately rented homes and empty commercial buildings to combat the negative impact the drug has on local people.

Read more about the work we’ve been doing here.