THREE men have been jailed after the police busted a £625,000 cannabis factory in a disused mill.

Two of the Albanian nationals escaped on to the roof of the building on Back Lord Street, Halifax, and had to be brought down by the fire service, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Before the court on video links from prison were Sebastian Cakraj, 23, of Rowsley Road, Stretford, Manchester; Davidson Asmailaj, 24; and Hagif Gjana, 21, both of no fixed address.

Prosecutor Chloe Fairley said all three had pleaded guilty to production of cannabis at the mill on September 19 last year.

Cakraj also admitted production of cannabis at a house in Millfield Close, Lower Quinton, Warwickshire, on June 17, 2020, and possession of a stun gun at that address.

He was jailed for a total of three years and ten months.

Gjana was imprisoned for 16 months and Asmailaj for ten and a half months.

Miss Fairley said a 999 call was received by the police about fighting in Back Lord Street that might be linked to a cannabis farm.

Cakraj was seen outside and chased and apprehended. Officers then noticed roller shutter doors open at the disused mill and lights on in the building.

There were living quarters on the ground floor with fully-stocked cupboards and fridge. A bundle of £395 in cash was found.

The police then heard footsteps above them and smashing glass.

Asmailaj and Gjana, with a third male still at large, had broken through a plasterboard wall into a hidden block of toilets and escaped out of the window on to the roof.

Officers discovered 322 cannabis plants hanging up to dry and floors and walls lined with plastic.

The grow would have yielded 62.5 kilos of cannabis with a wholesale value of up to £375,000 and a street value of up to £625,000.

A black Mercedes parked at the mill contained two large bundles of cash.

Saf Salam said in mitigation for Cakraj that he was middle management in the drugs chain. He came to the UK illegally to work but became embroiled in the cannabis enter-prise.

Asmailaj had been at the cannabis farm just a couple of hours, having gone there expecting to do plumbing work.

Gjana was very regretful about his involvement. He had elderly parents in Albania and had been exploited while in this country.

Recorder Ben Nolan KC said that for some reason, Cakraj was released on bail after be-ing caught at the Warwickshire grow and last year he became involved with the second drugs farm in Halifax.

Gjana was a gardener at the mill, while Asmailaj went there as a plumber. Both had player lesser roles in the drugs operation.

Recorder Nolan said Cakraj and Gjana would be deported when they had served their sentences.