An illegal immigrant who was involved with six professional cannabis factories, including two in Bradford, has been jailed for three years.

Hai Truong, 21, worked as a “gardener” at some of the factories, but Bradford Crown Court heard he had also been involved in the setting up of one of the illegal operations in the city.

Judge Peter Benson recommended Truong be deported back to Vietnam after he has served his sentence.

After the case, Detective Inspector Neil Benstead, of the Bradford District Drugs Team, said Truong had been involved in operations up and down the country.

“The sentencing of Truong highlights our commitment to tackling people involved in all levels of the production of cannabis,” said Det Insp Benstead.

“We will continue to do our utmost to stem the flow of drugs on to our streets and appeal to the public to assist us by ‘dobbing in a dealer’ by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Prosecutor Ewan McLachlan told the court Truong signed a tenancy agreement and handed over more than £1,000 as rent and a deposit for a property in Anne Place, Bradford, in August 2007.

A month later he handed over another £400 in rent, but when the landlord visited the house in November it had been transformed into a cannabis factory. Police found more than 300 plants at the house. The basement was equipped with lighting and transformers and other rooms had silver foil on the walls.

Truong’s DNA was found on cigarette ends discarded at other properties.

Officers discovered a dismantled cannabis factory at a house in Park Grove, Heaton, Bradford, in January last year and in July police seized 650 cannabis plants at a house in St Leonard’s-on-Sea, East Sussex.

‘’All the addresses were professional, commercial operations,’’ said Mr McLachlan.

Truong, who was smuggled into the country in 2006, admitted three offences of being concerned in the production of cannabis and asked for three similar offences, relating to properties in Doncaster, to be taken into consideration.

Barrister Giles Bridge, mitigating, said Truong was unlikely to pay off a £10,000 debt for coming into the country and could face repercussions when he returns to Vietnam.

The judge said Truong had admitted setting up the equipment in Sussex and helping to dismantle the cannabis factory in Park Grove.