An illegal immigrant who was recruited to tend a cannabis farm in Wolverhampton after becoming homeless has been jailed for eight months.
Hung Ngo, 35, admitted being concerned in the production of cannabis at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday, October 1. The court heard how Ngo left his wife and two children in Vietnam and entered the UK illegally, ending up homeless and begging for cash.
He posted an appeal for work in an online UK-based Vietnamese group and was contacted by a mystery man who offered him a bed in exchange for watering hundreds of cannabis plants at a property in Mattox Road, Wolverhampton.
Police raid uncovers large-scale operation
Police executed a warrant at the three-bedroom semi-detached house at about 7.30am on August 7, 2026. Officers forced entry and found cannabis plants in the living room, loft and two bedrooms.
Prosecutor Mark Karpinksi said a total of 250 to 300 cannabis plants were discovered. He told the court: "Electricity was being abstracted and this was essentially a professional, commercial set-up in the context of the cultivation of cannabis."
Ngo was found asleep in an upstairs bedroom and arrested. Mr Karpinksi said the defendant was working as a 'gardener' and 'most likely' had 'very little understanding of the entirety of the situation'. He added: "This was clearly an operation capable of producing significant quantities for commercial use."
Defendant claims he did not know cannabis was illegal
The court heard that Ngo had no previous convictions in the UK. Mr Karpinksi said: "The defendant, on his own admission, has entered the country illegally and has no right to reside or remain."
Nicole Steers, defending, said 'remorseful' Ngo admitted his offending and 'outlined' what had happened 'against the advice' of his solicitor during police interview. She said: "[He said] at first he did not realise that he was engaging in criminal activity but that once he realised, he felt a sense of being trapped and did not know what to do, essentially."
Ms Steers said Ngo is 'vulnerable' because he cannot speak English. She said: "He understands that, as a result of his behaviour, he is at risk of being sent back to Vietnam and he welcomes the opportunity of being returned to his country at the earliest convenience. But he also knows that he will have to be punished by serving a custodial term before that deportation process."
Judge accepts limited role under pressure
Sentencing, Recorder Barker said: "You told the officers that you were homeless, begging and sleeping rough and you posted your details on social media looking for work amongst a Vietnamese group based in the UK. You said that you had been contacted by an unknown male who effectively offered you a place to stay in exchange for you watering the plants."
Recorder Barker said Ngo accepted there was a key in the property, adding: "You had been strictly told not to leave and threatened with harm should you do so, so you did not. You said that the cannabis grow was already set up when you got there and you just took care of the plants."
She went on: "I'm satisfied that you were performing a limited function under direction and under pressure and had no influence on those above you in the chain."
Ngo, who appeared via video link from HMP Birmingham and was assisted by a Vietnamese interpreter, was jailed for eight months. The defendant, of no fixed abode, was sentenced on Thursday, October 1. Details of the value of the cannabis plants were not given in court, but each mature plant in the UK is thought to have an estimated street value of £1,000, putting the total value of the crop at up to £300,000.
