Three jailed for role in cloisters drug plot

Three men were today behind bars for their role in the running of a cannabis factory set up in the shadow of an historic Wolverhampton church.

More than 1,100 plants were being grown over three floors in an empty building in St John's Cloisters, opposite the city's landmark St John's-in-the-Square Church.

The plants were discovered during a police raid and Jaswinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Rajbinder Rattu were arrested at the scene.

They were jailed by Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday after admitting being concerned in the production of a class B drug. Judge Hilary Watson said sentences reflected their "menial" role in the factory.

"It is clear this cannabis factory was a very sophisticated and professional operation," she said.

Mr Stefan Kolodynski, prosecuting, said police were called to the scene at 11pm on October 15 by members of the public who had seen people acting suspiciously.

When officers arrived, they found a van parked next to the building containing plastic bin liners full of cannabis plants.

They searched the building and arrested Rattu and Gurpreet Singh, while Jaswinder Singh was arrested when police heard him trying to smash his way through a window.

Officers found 1,100 mature cannabis plants in total, estimated to be worth £203,000 on the streets.

"This was a sophisticated facility which had clearly taken a lot of time to set up," Mr Kolodynski told the court, sitting at the Waterfront in Brierley Hill.

But he added: "It is clear there are others involved further up the ladder."

Jaswinder Singh, aged 31, of Hawthorne Road, Blakenhall and Gurpreet Singh, 30, of Lower Lichfield Street, Willenhall, were sentenced to 20 months behind bars and Rattu, 26, of Hampshire Road, West Bromwich, was given 23 months.