A cannabis grower who hid in a former weekly newspaper office has been jailed for 18 months.

Albanian asylum seeker Dino Marku, 39, has also been told he will deported to his homeland after growing drugs at the former headquarters of the Powys County Times, in Welshpool.

The empty former County Times office, which is in an alleyway off Broad Street, Welshpool, was raided in January by Dyfed-Powys Police.

According to the Shropshire Star, Caernarfon Crown Court was told that 246 cannabis plants with an estimated value of £258,000 were found at the property.

A police van on Broad Street, Welshpool

Marku, who admitted being involved in drug production, had been promised £10,000 for acting as a cannabis factory gardener.

Alexandra Carrier, defending, told the court: “This defendant isn’t the brains behind the operation.”

Judge Timothy Petts told Marku: “The prospect of £10,000 led you to agree to be involved.”