An Albanian man has pleaded guilty to growing 157 cannabis plants at the former County Times office in Welshpool.

Kastriot Gega, 27, was arrested on Tuesday, September 3, after police executed a search warrant at the building located down a side alley next to Greggs bakery.

Gega, of no fixed abode, admitted to one charge of producing a controlled Class B drug between August 19 and September 3 when he appeared at Mold Crown Court on a video link from HMP Berwyn near Wrexham.

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The 27-year-old told the court through an Albanian interpreter on Friday, October 4, that he pleaded guilty "but I wasn't aware of the consequences of my job".

Matthew Dunford, defending, said: "Mr Gega is anxious to be sentenced but I’ve told him that it’s not likely he will be sentenced today.

"He is anxious because he wants to be able to return to Albania because he has ill members of his family who he wishes to assist including his father."

His Honour Judge Rhys Rowlands told Gega that he will be produced in court to be sentenced on Thursday, October 10.