A photo captured the moment a man attempted to elude police capture by hiding on the roof while a search was being conducted for him.
When police visited Etmond Lika’s home due to a tip about a probable cannabis grow, the 32-year-old fled from them. Officers examined the Kirkdale, Liverpool, home and discovered food and other signs that someone had been residing there while looking for Lika.
Lika tried to escape them by climbing through a skylight and hiding on the property’s roof, but he was soon apprehended and detained.
He was charged and sentenced to two years and four months in jail after pleading guilty to one count of being concerned in the production of cannabis at Liverpool Crown Court.
The locksmith who was called to the Stanley Road, Kirkdale property to replace the front door lock discovered the cannabis cultivation, according to the court’s hearing.
Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, said: “The locksmith noticed what he thought was a cannabis installation at the property and called the police.
“He thought someone was inside.”
Police searched the property and found that over the six rooms inside was a cannabis growing installation, of at least 200 plants, described as “plainly a sophisticated operation”.
Mr. Hopkins added: “Lika had been employed by somebody to manage or run this installation whether that was tending to the plants or whatever else was required.”
The 32-year-old initially denied being involved, but said he came to the UK via a boat across the channel in 2022, hoping to get better economic opportunities.
Lika said he paid €5,000 for the trip, but the prosecution said “the Crown frankly knows nothing else about this defendant”.
He added: “Lika must have been motivated by some significant financial advantage and must have understood what was going on in the house.”
Lika has no previous convictions in the UK, and a foreign record was requested but none was provided.
Olivia Beesley, defending, said her client was offered £100 a day to live at the property and had left Albania for economic reasons.
She said: “He wants to work but he knows now that he should have done so through proper channels.
“He simply wishes to receive his sentence with grace and understands he must be punished for this kind of offending.”
She said Lika had requested an English Language course while in custody and was homeless for a week prior to committing this offense.
Ms Beesley also detailed that Lika said he had no previous convictions in Albania.
Judge Brian Cummings KC said: “You entered this country illegally, little or nothing is known about you.
“I note what was said in the case summary by reference to your police interview, and I quote: ‘It was difficult to get an answer out of him, he continuously changed his account throughout the interview’.”
A forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia was ordered. A victim surcharge also applies.
