A MAN tending a Bradford cannabis farm was told by his criminal bosses they would “cut off his arms if he touched the plants.”

Lukas Jelinskas and his co-accused Gediminas Norvainin were each jailed for ten months today for their roles in the 56-plant enterprise in Woodroyd Terrace, West Bowling.

Jelinskas, 28, and Norvainin, 30, will each be deported to their native Lithuania when they have served their sentences.

The men pleaded guilty to production of cannabis after police raided the mid-terrace property on January 29.

Prosecutor Paul Nicholson said Jelinskas was stopped by the police after he jumped a red light in Parkside Road, West Bowling.

He said he could not remember his address and then tried to run off.

His house keys were found in the vehicle along with fertiliser and a utility bill for the address in Woodroyd Terrace.

When police officers went to the house, they found 37 cannabis plants in one bedroom and 19 in another.

Norvainin was present at the address when the police arrived. He said he was staying there to look after the crop for a week because he needed a roof over his head.

Jelinskas said he had come to the United Kingdom with the promise of work as a lorry driver, but it had not materialised.

He was paid to tend the cannabis farm that was already set up when he arrived at the property.

Jelinskas said he was afraid of the criminals he was working for.

“He was told that if he touched the plants, they would cut his arms off,” Mr Nicholson said.

Tom Rushbrooke, solicitor advocate for Jelinskas, said he paid £100 to be transported to the United Kingdom after seeing an advert in Lithuania for an HGV driver.

He had no previous convictions and had been intimidated by the men who ran the cannabis factory.

Emma Downing, Norvainin’s barrister, said he was remorseful and, like his co-accused, wanted to return to his homeland as soon as possible.

His family had heard little from him since he was remanded in custody and were very worried.

Judge Jonathan Rose said people would have no sympathy with the men if they were frightened and intimidated by the criminal gang they were working for.

“If you choose to lay down with criminals then that is the consequence,” he said.

But he accepted that both of them came to this country expecting to find legitimate work and, only when their hopes were dashed, did they willingly join the illegal enterprise.

Judge Rose said the pair will be deported after serving their sentences.