A man jailed for producing cannabis in Sudbury had been convicted of a similar crime last year, been deported and illegally returned to the UK, a court heard.

Aurel Barpeerrja appeared in the dock at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, facing a charge of producing cannabis.

Barpeerrja, of no fixed address, had pleaded guilty to the offence after being apprehended at a warehouse in Addison Road on the outskirts of Sudbury.

The court heard that police received a phone call, which indicated that a large-scale cannabis production line was being operated from a unit on the industrial estate.

Officers visited the site and noted that there was a strong smell of cannabis.

The court heard Barpeerrja re-entered the country after being deportedThe court heard Barpeerrja re-entered the country after being deported (Image: Suffolk police)

The warehouse, the court heard was “medium-sized” and spread across two floors. Having gained entry, officers pulled aside a curtain which revealed a hatch leading to four separate rooms, all of which contained cannabis plants.

Barpeerrja, 42, was apprehended by officers at the scene. The court heard that it is believed there were also “a number of other” who managed to flee the warehouse, Barpeerrja being the only one to be arrested.

In sentencing the defendant, Judge David Wilson said that Barpeerrja, who participated in proceedings with the aid of an Albanian interpreter, was convicted of a similar offence for being involved in the production of cannabis in Newcastle in February last year.

Barpeerrja received a sentence of 28 months for this offence and was ultimately deported. Judge Wilson said that it appeared that Barpeerrja had re-entered the UK illegally.

He sentenced Barpeerrja to four years imprisonment, which he reduced to three years in light of his guilty plea.

Barpeerrja would ordinarily serve half this sentence, but Judge Wilson warned him that he is likely to face deportation by the Home Office for a second time.