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‘House-sitter and gardener’ for quarter of a million pound cannabis farm jailed

Zygimantas Nevulis leaving court
Zygimantas Nevulis leaving court

A cannabis farm “house-sitter and gardener” ran and hid under a tarpaulin cover as police knocked on the door of the drugs factory worth more than £250,000.

Zygimantas Nevulis looked after the high-tech farm inside an address on Leggart Terrace in Aberdeen in return for free accommodation and £80 per week.

When police knocked on the door, the 30-year-old fled and took cover underneath a tarpaulin in a bedroom.

But the officers forced entry and quickly located Nevulis, along with more than 300 cannabis plants and saplings with a maximum potential value of £269,730.

Fiscal depute Lynne MacVicar told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that police attended the house on Leggart Terrace around 7am on December 21 and noted a “strong smell of cannabis”.

Zygimantas Nevulis tried to hide his face as he was led to the prison van

She said: “Officers could see the accused within the address and, on identifying themselves as police, the accused ran from the front door and disappeared from view.

“Given the accused’s actions, authority was granted for officers to force entry.

“The accused was traced within a first-floor room, having crawled under a tarpaulin.”

Officers noted that each room on the first floor contained a number of cannabis plants, along with insulation, ventilation and heat lamps.

Zygimantas Nevulis tried to hide his face as he entered the prison van

Ms MacVicar said: “The plants appeared fully mature and it was suspected to be a large-scale cannabis cultivation of about 30-50 plants within five growing areas”.

Police officers guarded the building while warrants were granted and Nevulis was arrested and taken to Kittybrewster station.

A full search of the address later uncovered 165 fully mature cannabis plants, each worth between £200 and £810, with a maximum potential value of £133,650.

In addition, 168 saplings were found in a tent on the ground floor underneath the staircase.

‘A consistent revenue stream’

At their stage of growth they had “no intrinsic value”, but had the potential to raise up to £136,080.

Lights, fans, ducting, electrical equipment, nutrients and other items commonly used in the growing of cannabis plants were also recovered.

Ms MacVicar said: “A report was prepared and it was observed that it would have required a significant amount of preparation and detailed planning to retrofit the premises for the sole purpose of growing cannabis.

“In the experience of the officers, this type of cannabis cultivation is consistent with a commercial cannabis grow operation used to generate a consistent revenue stream.”

While in custody, Nevulis had a panic attack during which he spat in the direction of an officer, hitting his arm and T-shirt.

He later “apologised and stated that he did not mean to spit at him”.

‘Served with deportation papers’

Nevulis pled guilty to producing cannabis and culpably and recklessly spitting at the officer.

Defence agent Paul Barnett said his client is a Lithuanian national, had only arrived in the UK in the summer of 2021 and had no previous convictions.

He said: “As a result of these proceedings, he has been served with deportation papers.

“His position is he wishes to return to Lithuanian as soon as he is able to do so.”

Mr Barnett explained Nevulis had come to the UK with the intention of finding “legitimate employment”, but had run out of money before issues with his passport and driving licence had been resolved.

Zygimantas Nevulis being led to the prison van

The lawyer added: “He found himself in a somewhat desperate position when he was offered the opportunity of effectively being a house-sitter and gardener in relation to this cannabis cultivation.

“In return for that, he was allowed to live at the property rent-free and was also given £80 per week for food and sustenance.”

Mr Barnett said that Nevulis had initially not realised it was police officers at the door and ran to hide thinking the house may be being broken into.

Sheriff Ian Wallace ordered Nevulis, a prisoner of HMP Grampian, to be jailed for 12 months, backdated to December 22 when he was first remanded.

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