Isle of Wight hotel cannabis farm sees 3 men jailed

Wayne Newton, of The Holliers Hotel, on Church Road, Shanklin, appeared for sentencing, alongside Artan Ulndreaj and Kevin Brako, both of no fixed address, at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday (May 8).

All three had admitted cannabis production offences at an earlier hearing.

Police executed a warrant at the hotel on December 23 last year — discovering 242 cannabis plants, spread across the whole of the building’s second floor.

The boarded up hotel following the December 23 drugs raid (Image: Contributed)

The set-up was described as a “high value production”, with lamps, hydroponic growing systems, fans and electrical points installed throughout the floor, said Tim Devlin, prosecuting.

The value of the drugs was estimated at between £23,000 and £29,000.

The court heard the operation represented a “significant investment” and had been installed with the cooperation of Newton, who also admitted permitting the production of cannabis from his premises.

It was argued on behalf of Ulndreaj and Brako that they were effectively 'gardeners' — claiming there was no evidence they had a management role in the enterprise.

However, at an earlier hearing, Judge Michael Bowes questioned whether the men could have been "unaware" of the scale of the operation.

He said the quantity of cannabis and money involved suggested a level of understanding, and warned against treating the case as if the men were “little more than pawns”.

Passing sentence at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday (May 8), the judge said Newton was “in it for the money” and jailed the hotel owner for two years and eight months.

Ulndreaj, who also admitted knowingly overstaying in the UK, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.

Brako received a six-month jail term.

The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of all drugs paraphernalia seized from the hotel, including lamps and hydroponic equipment, along with the cannabis plants and £200 in cash.