Man who grew cannabis worth more than £50k in house in Boston jailed

Fitim Fehrataj, 49, was found sleeping on a sofa after police raided the property in Irby Street on December 28 last year.

Lincoln Crown Court was told officers found 133 cannabis plants growing in four rooms along with sophisticated gardening equipment.

After being woken, Fehrataj immediately offered his wrists to the officers for his arrest, the court was told.

An expert drugs analyst estimated the potential wholesale value of the cannabis at £56,000 and much higher if sold in street deals.

During interview, Fehrataj admitted he had been taken to the property by those in charge of the grow, but insisted he was not being held against his will.

Fehrataj told officers he had spent two or three months living at the house and was operating as a ‘gardener’ for the cannabis grow.

Investigations showed Fehrataj had a conviction in his native Albania and was also present at a previous cannabis grow which was discovered in Yorkshire on October 3, 2024.

On that occasion, Fehrataj claimed to be a painter and decorator, and no further action was taken after police believed he was served with a deportation notice.

Fehrataj, of Irby Street, Boston, admitted a charge of producing cannabis on December 28, 2025.

Tom Heath, mitigating, told the court Fehrataj entered the UK in mid-2024 after crossing the English Channel in a boat.

Mr Heath explained: “He initially intended to find employment but absconded from a Home Office approved hotel after just four days.”

“He accepts acting as the gardener for this grow but was clearly not in charge of the operation,” Mr Heath added.

Passing sentence, Judge Catarina Sjolin-Knight told Fehrataj: “This was clearly a professional set-up.”

Judge Sjolin-Knight added: “The police found you asleep on the sofa. You immediately held out your wrists to be handcuffed.”

The court was told Fehrataj will face automatic deportation once he has served the custodial part of his sentence.