A man jailed for tending 344 cannabis plants at a Bradford house was anxious to get back to his homeland to rescue his wife from “unsavoury characters” who were threatening her, his barrister said.

Vietnamese national Hai Nguyen was locked up for eight months at Bradford Crown Court after he was caught at the cannabis farm in Edmund Street, central Bradford, on July 2.

He pleaded guilty to production of cannabis and was sentenced on a video link to HMP Leeds where he was remanded in custody.

Prosecutor Samreen Akhtar said that police officers acting on intelligence went to the property and discovered the cannabis farm.

Nguyen, 41, of no fixed address, appeared on the landing with his hands up.

He was the only occupant at the property and had the keys with him, the court heard.

Miss Akhtar said the electricity supply had been bypassed and a room converted into a makeshift bedroom with bedding and a phone.

The kitchen was stocked with “fresh food in plentiful supply,” looking as if Nguyen was planning to stay at the address for some considerable time.

He had a small amount of money on him, the court was told.

The cannabis farm was equipped with the usual fans, lighting and transformers.

Miss Akhtar said there was no information on what the yield would have been.

Nguyen made no comment in interview, refusing to tell the police if he was trafficked into the country and by what means he arrived.

He had no convictions recorded against him in the United Kingdom.

His barrister, Satpal Roth-Sharma, said that Nguyen came here some years ago in the back of a lorry.

He had run up a substantial debt in Vietnam and was frightened for the safety of his wife.

“She was being threatened by unsavoury characters,” Mrs Roth-Sharma said.

Nguyen did not have large amounts of cash on him when he was arrested.

He wanted to go back to his homeland as soon as possible to rescue his wife and move with her to another area of the country.

Judge David Hatton QC said the production of cannabis was always regarded as a serious matter by the courts.

The sooner Nguyen returned to Vietnam to rescue his wife, the better.

“Something which you might reasonably have done some time ago,” he told him.

Judge Hatton said it wasn’t possible to suspend the eight-month prison term, it must be an immediate custodial sentence.