A man found hiding in the loft of a Norwich house has admitted running a sophisticated cannabis growing operation.

Denis Corri, 27, was arrested after police undertook a dawn raid of a semi-detached property on Dowson Road in Mile Cross.

Officers who forced entry on November 6 discovered three rooms of the unassuming house had been blacked out and converted into a cannabis farm including hi-tech hydroponics equipment, extraction and lighting.

The cannabis plants found at the home in Dowson RoadThe cannabis plants found at the home in Dowson Road (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

READ MORE: Cannabis farm found at home in Dowson Road in Norwich

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told 166 cannabis plants were discovered in a mature state of growth, worth an estimated £150,000.

There was also evidence of previous crops having already been harvested.

Lesla Small, prosecuting, said: “Due to the number of plants and the type of equipment this was clearly a professional and commercial operation.”

Speaking through an Albanian interpreter, Corri, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to production of a class B drug – cannabis.

The court was told UK Power had discovered circuits at the property had been bypassed in order to steal power for the growing operation, but Corri denied a separate charge of dishonest use of electricity. 

166 plants were found growing as part of a large-scale hydroponics operation166 plants were found growing as part of a large-scale hydroponics operation (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

READ MORE: Albanian jailed for Norwich cannabis growing operation

He was committed to be sentenced and for a trial date to be set at Norwich Crown Court on December 9.

James Landles, defending, said there was no disagreement on the circumstances outlined by the prosecution but he urged magistrates to order a pre-sentence report.”

The Albanian national had entered the UK illegally and immigration officials had lost track of him after he failed to comply with notification requirements after an unsuccessful appeal for asylum, the court was told.  

Magistrates approved an unopposed application for him to be remanded in custody until his sentence citing fears he may not otherwise attend court and because he had no fixed address for bail conditions.