THE sentencing of a cannabis farmer who admitted tending to a grow with an estimated value of £450,000 has been delayed.

The cannabis farm was rumbled when officers from Cheshire Police carried out the raid at an address on Ludlow Close in Padgate.

A warrant was executed at around 8.45am on Tuesday, June 4.

Once inside, officers recovered 453 cannabis plants, with these given an estimated value of around £450,000.

A suspect was arrested and subsequently charged with illegally abstracting electricity and cultivating cannabis.

Francesco Vrapi appeared before Chester Magistrates' Court two days later for a plea hearing in relation to the charges.

The former alleged that, between March 1 and June 4, 2024, in Warrington, he dishonestly used a quantity of electricity of an unknown value without due authority.

The latter charge alleged that the 31-year-old, of no fixed abode, cultivated 453 cannabis plants in Warrington between the same dates.

Vrapi indicated guilty pleas to both charges, with magistrates committing the case to Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing.

The defendant was remanded in custody to appear before Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, which he did via videolink from HM Prison Altcourse, and assisted by an Albanian interpreter

However, the sentencing hearing could not proceed as a pre-sentence report had not been prepared as expected.

Prosecutor Paul Blasbery and defence counsel Callum Ross agreed a new sentencing date of August 8.

Adjourning the case, judge Denis Watson said: “Mr Vrapi, your case was listed for sentence today, but I am afraid it cannot go ahead today.

“Before you are sentenced, there should be a pre-sentence report. I know the probation officer tried to speak to you but there was no interpreter.

“I am afraid this will take four weeks. Your case will be listed again on August 8. You will remain in custody in Altcourse until then.

“That is the end of the hearing. Thank you very much.”