A CHINESE illegal immigrant with links to two cannabis farms in Pendle has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Yi Zhe told police that Triads had forced her to rent property, but denied knowing anything about the drug being grown at two premises.

Preston Crown Court heard that police discovered hundreds of cannabis plants in total.

Zhe’s fingerprints were found.

Zhe, 35, of no fixed address, had pleaded guilty to two charges of producing cannabis.

She was assisted by a Mandarin-speaking interpreter at the court yesterday.

Roger Green, prosecuting, said police searched a terrace house, in Sackville Street, Brierfield, last September.

A total of 293 cannabis plants were discovered. Police executed a search warrant in Chapel Street, Nelson, in December.

That was also a “cannabis factory” containing a number of plants.

Zhe and a man were seen walking towards the front door, arm in arm.

They fled on realising the police were there, but she was caught in Leeds Road.

She claimed she had been forced by Triads to rent property, but denied knowing anything about cannabis being grown in Chapel Street.

She also said she had no sense of smell and had been a cleaner at the Sackville Street property.

Bob Elias, defending, said she was extremely vulnerable to manipulation and control by other Chinese people cont-rolling crime.

Zhe spoke no English and had no ability to buy any food, or anything else.

“She was effectively a gardener in these offences and no more,” he told the court.