Former village hall in tiny hamlet set up as cannabis farm

Zhiqiang Zhuang, 48, was found by police hiding under bin bags in the loft of the building in Thompson, near Watton, surrounded by more than 200 cannabis plants.

Norwich Crown Court heard the property in Tottington Road had been up at auction for £35,000 but failed to sell and Zhuang later "paid well over price for it" when he bought it for £100,000.

The former village hall (Image: McHugh and Co) The court was told Zhuang, whose business suffered due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, found himself in "financial difficulties" and decided to "grow cannabis plants to assist him" in carrying out the conversion.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Richard Paterson, prosecuting, said the defendant was at home when police raided the property and was found in the loft which had a "concealed entrance".

The prosecutor said "numerous" cannabis plants were seen by police who were to find a total of 228 plants which showed the "considerable scale of the operation".

During the raid on September 29 2022, police also found cannabis in the defendant's white BMW parked outside as well as a receipt for £833.03 showing he had purchased air filters and fans to help with the growing of the plants.

Officers also discovered the electricity had been bypassed.

Zhuang, from London, appeared in court on Tuesday for sentencing having previously admitted production of cannabis, possession of cannabis and abstraction of electricity.

Zhiqiang Zhuang (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Richard Parry, mitigating, said Zhuang, who has no previous convictions, had bought the property as an investment to be turned into flats before going to his eldest son after he finished university.

But he said Zhuang "found himself in some financial difficulties" leading to his decision to grow cannabis.

He said the defendant, who helps care for his middle son who has autism, started taking cannabis himself in 2020 and the drugs found by police in his car was for "personal  use".

Recorder Michael Turner, who insisted the defendant "looked more like an accountant" than a drug dealer, said the enterprise had been "funded in its entirety from your own resources".

But he acknowledged this had been a "one off aberration" by Zhuang who was of previous positive good character and had admitted the offences.

Zhuang was given 21 months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work.