FOUR men were jailed for their roles in a potentially large-scale cannabis growing operation being set up in a disused office block.

They were among eight men, seven of Albanian origin, arrested when police raided Ridgemount House, in Peterlee, on April 20.

A total of 502 plants in the early stages of growth, were recovered from the fifth floor of the building which previously housed the alcohol and drugs recovery service.

It was estimated the plants could have gone on to offer a yield of about 500-kilograms.

Christine Egerton, prosecuting, told Durham Crown Court the third floor seemed to be serving as the accommodation area, with mattresses and foodstuffs found.

Police deployed cctv prior to the raid which pinpointed the defendants at the premises helping to assemble the operation, three of the four leaving finger prints.

Defendants Hekuran Xekoypan, 27, Ledi Baxhija, 21, Daniel Kapxhio, 31, and 24-year-old Ksandros Lapardhaja all admitted production of a class B drug.

Ian Mullarkey, for Xekoypan, said he has dual Greek/Albanian nationality and came to this country legally as a Greek passport holder and had applied for a National Insurance number, working on building sites initially.

Martin Scarborough, for Baxhija, of previous good character, claimed he played, “a lesser role”, as a gardener, with “no operational or management function.”

Jane Waugh, for Kapxhio, claimed he was unaware of the nature of the operation until 48 hours before arrest, as he was recruited to perform a labouring job, carrying items up and down stairs.

Ian West, for Laphardhaja, said he was also recruited to perform a labouring job, helping to carry heavy items up the stairs as the lifts in the building were not working.

Mr West said he was unaware of the size of the operation, which was “only in its infancy” when police raided.

Judge Ray Singh said there was the potential to raise £300,000 just from the plants recovered from the building, which was only in the throes of being developed to produce more cannabis growths.

Due to telephone evidence and the fact Xekoypan had the keys to a Mercedes vehicle parked outside Ridgemount House, Judge Singh rejected claims that he and Baxhija played lesser roles, and imposed prison sentences of 33 and 30-months on them, respectively.

But he accepted Kapxhio and Lapardhaja performed lesser roles, imposing sentences of 11 and ten-months on them, respectively.