A VIETNAMESE man has been put behind bars after being caught growing cannabis in a Warrington house.

Thinh Bui initially denied a charge of producing the class B controlled drug in the address in Woolston.

The 20-year-old claimed to be a ‘modern slave’, but he has now been convicted of the offence and jailed.

On December 27, officers from Cheshire Police were called to a property on Berkshire Drive in Woolston following intelligence reports of a cannabis grow.

On attendance, police reported a strong smell suspected to be the controlled class B drug cannabis, plants of which were found on entry into an address.

A suspect was arrested at the scene, and a man was charged with production of cannabis.

Thinh Bui, of no fixed address, made a first appearance before Chester Magistrates’ Court two days later, on December 29, in relation to the charge.

The particulars of the charge alleged that Bui produced 164 cannabis plants.

Bui confirmed his personal details but did not enter a plea to the charge, and district judge John McGarva subsequently sent the case to the crown court.

The defendant appeared before Liverpool Crown Court in February for a plea and trial preparation hearing, via video link from HM Prison Altcourse and assisted by a Vietnamese interpreter.

Here, his defence counsel, Jeremy Rawson informed the court how a previous plea hearing was adjourned to allow for the filing of Home Office documentation.

Bui entered a not guilty plea to the charge, with a trial date fixed for the week commencing June 17 and a mention hearing on May 24.

But at this mention hearing, Bui was convicted, with the case proceeding to sentence him to 10 months immediate imprisonment.