Three men involved with a three-storey cannabis farm were caught after neighbours heard breaking glass and alerted the police.

Abrar Mohammed and Hamzah Hanif fled the scene and were apprehended nearby.

Craig Land was discovered inside the property on Beverley Terrace, Boothtown, Halifax, which had been converted into a “sophisticated” cannabis farm cultivating 79 plants.

All three men were arrested at the scene.

Prosecutor Susannah Proctor told Bradford Crown Court that the house had been rented by a tenant for six months and in that time had been turned into an illegal commercial drug farm.

The 79 plants were found in eight upstairs rooms with a further 128 plants found in the cellar.

Miss Proctor said: “In the opinion of the [drugs] expert these 79 plants could have been grown to fully flowered maturity in situ.

“Based on the typical average cannabis yield of 105g per plant the estimated yield of 79 plants could be around 8.3kg.”

No financial value was given in court.

Police were called on June 28, 2023, when neighbours heard banging and smashing of glass as well as people walking up and down the stairs.

Officers found the house in darkness but heard voices from inside and saw torchlight from outside.

Mohammed and Hanif ran from the house but were caught a short distance away. Mohammed had keys to a Mercedes van in his pocket. When it was searched officers found cannabis plants inside.

Hanif was found to be carrying two knuckledusters.

Land was located inside the house.

All three were arrested and in interview gave “no comment” answers.

Hanif, 21, later pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cannabis. Land, 53, pleaded guilty to production of cannabis. Mohammed, 34, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis.

The court heard that Land had a lengthy criminal record including for drug-related offences, burglary, and 34 convictions for theft.

Mohammed had convictions for drug offences and burglary. Hanif was of previous good character.

The court heard that Land, a heroin addict, became involved in producing cannabis as a result of accruing a £500 debt for his habit.

Sentencing the trio Mr Recorder Patrick Palmer told Land: “As a result of your addiction you were told to go to attend this address where an Albanian male was staying and growing cannabis for a local dealer.

“In order to pay off your debt you were instructed to ensure the maintenance of the cannabis grow that the Albanian male was growing, and to look after the Albanian male. You attended at that address two to three times of the week, staying overnight for a period of about three weeks. You did not receive any financial advantage.”

He sentenced Land, of Truro Street, Armley, Leeds, to 22 months imprisonment suspended for two years. Mohammed, of Willow Avenue, Burley, Leeds, received two months imprisonment. Hanif, of Tempest Road, Leeds, was handed a 12-month community order and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Land was also ordered to complete a nine-month drug rehabilitation programme and to undertake 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Recorder Palmer ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis plants and drugs paraphernalia.