A MAN caught at a £270,000 cannabis farm in Southend High Street with almost 400 plants has been jailed and could face deportation.

Fabiol Tusha, an Albanian national, was spotted on drone footage climbing on the roof of a three-storey building in the High Street as as police carried out a raid on the cannabis farm.

Yesterday, Tusha, 31, was jailed for two years and four months and told he could face deportation despite his lawyers attempting to claim he was a victim of modern day slavery.

Alongside the cannabis farm, police found a PlayStation 4, a large TV and a “fridge full of food” which disproved his claims of being a victim.

In total, 390 cannabis plants were found.

Kuljeet Singh Dobe, prosecuting, said: “Officers noted a number of very secure and professional locks at the property they were able to get through.

“Upon entry they found a large scale cannabis operation spread across five rooms over three floors.

“The valuation of what was found is between £108,000 wholesale going up to £270,000 in street value.”

When Tusha, of Cline Road, in North London, was arrested police recovered an iPhone, Nokia burner phone and £693 in cash.

After his arrest on February 8 this year, he was interviewed on the same day, answering no comment to police questions.

Saleema Mahmood, mitigating, argued Tusha was deceived when brought over from Albania.

She said: “The reason Mr Tusha is in that house is because he had to pay off a debt accrued because of travel to the UK which was under the false promise of employment.

“He then chose to remain on the property and engage in work as he was directed, doing so to achieve economic benefit as a way to pay off that debt.

“For a man with initially no English language skill to be in custody for nine months would be more difficult than others would find.”

Sentencing Tusha yesterday, Judge Shane Collery, said: “It must be noted that the property had a large television and PlayStation in the living room, a notepad with monies paid out and a large fridge full of food.

“Pictures on your phone show you at different locations in Bedford and London looking content with your condition, none of them look like a man forced into modern slavery.”