A NEWPORT man was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment for being concerned in the production of up to £1million worth of cannabis at properties he was developing across Gwent.

Benjamin Hassani, 34, of Ridgeway Drive, Newport, appeared for sentence at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of becoming concerned in the production of the Class B drug cannabis and one count of making a false statement.

He appeared alongside Steven Phillips, 50, of St Andrews Place, Newport, who also pleaded guilty to one count of becoming concerned in the production of cannabis.

The court heard how Hassani fell in to debts during the credit crunch when he was unable to keep up mortgage payments for his multiple priorities across Gwent.

On March 29, 2011, a police officer on duty in Merthyr was alerted to the smell of cannabis in the area and traced it to a warehouse owned by Hassani. On forced entry he found an industrial scale of cannabis production with 947 mature plants; 528 junior plants and 48 drying. It was said to be between 201 to 226 grams. The court heard how Hassani made a false statement to police where he denied knowledge of the production.

In February 2014 a second property Hassani was responsible for the development of on Mill Street in Newport, was also discovered to be producing a vast industrial scale cannabis with around 2,000 plants there, around 53 to 100 kilos in total said to be worth between half a million pounds and £1million in street value. This was after Hassani failed to keep up mortgage payments causing a forced entry into the premises.

Hassani pleased guilty to all counts.

Phillips was caught after he appeared in photographs taken at the premises during the raid.

He pleaded guilty to becoming concerned in the production of cannabis.

Robin Shellard, for Hassani, said: “He is not the first, nor will he be the last person to try his hand at property development and over extend himself.

“He over extended himself , lived beyond his means and borrowed money outside the legitimate banking system where he found himself exposed to threats and pressure to co-operate with what he knew was illegal activity.”

The court heard how he had been a man of good character previously and had been caring for his ill mother.

“Mr Hassani is a broken man,” Mr Shellard said.

“He has lost everything-his property, his good name and his partner.”

Timothy Evans, for Phillips, said Phillips had been doing good work as a peer mentor for the St Giles Trust.

Judge Daniel Williams said: “{Hassani] You are 34 years old and a man with no previous convictions.

“I am prepared to believe that you are a man of good character.

“Yours was a significant role in the production of quantities of cannabis over a long period.

“Mr Phillips you are a man who is 50 years old and you have previous convictions.

“In your pre-sentence report you showed some awareness of the affects of the drug, namely that it wrecks lives.”

Hassani was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment of which he must serve half.

Phillips was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment of which he must serve half.