Man who hid in wall during drug raid jailed

A man who hid for hours in a wall from detectives raiding a cannabis factory has been jailed.

Emri Bushi was eventually discovered in a cavity between two walls at the facility on Churchlands industrial estate in Harbury, Warwickshire, on 23 July.

Warwickshire Police estimated it recovered 3,577 cannabis plants during the operation, with a street value of up to £2m.

The 46-year-old, of Winterbourne Croft, Kings Norton, Birmingham, was sentenced to two years and three months in jail at Warwick Crown Court last Wednesday.

Police said the "elaborate cannabis grow" was spread over two floors and the site had living quarters, a kitchen and bathroom.

Detectives combing the unit discovered Bushi hiding hours after they had arrived, and arrested him at the scene.

He was subsequently charged with production of cannabis. A second charge of abstracting electricity was discharged by the court.

Det Con Chris Pitt of Warwickshire Police said: "Most of the cannabis produced in this country is now done so by violent, dangerous criminal gangs who terrorise communities and rely on drugs income to keep their violence going."

He added: "We welcome this sentence and we're pleased to have been able to seize such a substantial amount of drugs."

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