Ipswich Electrician Sentenced for Cannabis Cultivation
Julian Qerimaj, 30, an electrician from Ipswich, has been sentenced after being found hiding in a property with 121 cannabis plants. The incident took place on February 7 last year when police arrived at an address in Ipswich to arrest Qerimaj.
Officers forced entry into the building and found Qerimaj hiding in the loft. In one of the bedrooms, they discovered 121 cannabis plants, along with growing equipment such as transformers, lamps, and bulbs. A drugs expert estimated that the plants, being juvenile, would yield around 3.2 kg of cannabis. If sold in bulk, this could be worth around £15,000, or up to £40,000 if sold individually.
Qerimaj, who had been staying at the property for two weeks, admitted to watering the plants but denied installing the electrical equipment, stating that he had been hired for other renovations. His defense suggested that Qerimaj, originally from Albania, came to the UK as an economic migrant but found his expectations unfulfilled.
Having already spent around 15 months in custody before being formally charged with cannabis cultivation earlier this year, Qerimaj pleaded guilty in March. In sentencing, Recorder Sarah Przybylska acknowledged the delay in charging him and reduced his sentence to four months, taking into account the time he had already served.
However, the judge emphasized the severity of the offense, stating that the cultivation of cannabis is a serious matter.