TWO men have been jailed over their part in a cannabis growing operation in a deserted working men's club in Shipley.

Jonas Janusonis, 31, and Simas Shulmis, 28, both from Lithuania, received three year sentences over the "reasonably sophisticated" set-up at Woodend Working Men's Club.

Bradford Crown Court heard how police were alerted to reports of men breaking in through the roof of the building on Woodend Crescent in the earlier hours of the morning on June 30.

"When the police arrived, those appearing to break in had left the scene, but the officers went in and searched the premises," the court was told.

What they found was three large tents along with electrical equipment set up in the bar area of the run down building.

The equipment included halogen lights, fans, electrical transformers and timers.

Upstairs there were five rooms, two of which we were being used by the defendants.

A total of 148 young cannabis plants were found in one of the other upstairs rooms, in separate pots, "ready to be grown in tents downstairs", the court was told.

Janusonis was found by police in a upstairs bedroom and Shulmis was discovered in the loft of the premises.

Police seized a mobile phone and £350 from Janusonis and £500, four mobile phones and two laptops from Shulmis.

The electricity meter had also been bypassed.

When interviewed by police the men gave no comment.

The prosecution's case was that the defendants were left in charge of the property and were going to live there, set up the equipment and move the plants into the tents.

They would then tend the plants to make sure they grow properly.

Both men pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis, and Janusonis admitted abstracting electricity without authority.

In Janusonis' defence, the court heard that due to his illegal status in the UK, he was a prime candidate to be recruited.

In addition the cannabis growing operation itself was said to be in its infancy, it was argued.

"These plants were ultimately going to travel to the tents that had been set up.

"Had the police presented themselves several months down the line, then the extent of the cannabis operation may have been 'significant and excessive'," the court was told.

Shulmis was said to have been left almost destitute after struggling to find work - and it was at this point he arrived in Bradford and had only been at the property for nine days prior to his arrest.

He had got involved in the cannabis farm in order to get the fare together to travel back to Lithuania as he wanted to return urgently.

He was remorseful, the court also heard.

It also emerged that he had already signed deportation papers with the Home Office.

In sentencing, Recorder Dapinder Singh QC said the set up at the working men's club had involved "reasonably sophisticated equipment".

He said that both men had a limited function under direction in the operation, but that it was nonetheless a significant role.

After sentencing both men to three years imprisonment, he also ordered that the plants, drug equipment and money be forfeited.

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