A 'desperate' illegal immigrant was told he'd be killed unless he worked as a 'gardener' at a cannabis farm in Longsight.
Oretsis Cobo, 29, had been living in the farm which had been set up in a terraced house, for about six weeks before police discovered it.
Cobo later told officers he'd been taken to the house on Eston Street in a van after being sent a 'threatening letter'.
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He was told to water and feed the cannabis plants and warned if he failed to comply 'he would be killed', Manchester Crown Court heard.
Police were originally called to the house after reports of disorder. They found Cobo lying on the floor, and having a 'medical episode', on February 19.
Officers found more than 300 plants, which could have yielded between 13 and 14 kilos of cannabis.
There were grows in several rooms and the loft.
After being arrested, Albanian national Cobo told police he had not set up the farm, and was only involved in feeding and watering the plants.
He said he'd not been paid for his work, other than being brought food and money for a phone top up, and being allowed to live there rent free.
Cobo said he'd been threatened by an individual who had told him to stay at the house, otherwise he'd be killed.
He was too scared to call police, prosecutor Anam Khan said.
Defending, Thomas McKail said married Cobo came to the UK in 2019 to try and find work and provide for his family.
He had no income or home after struggling to find work, the court heard.
"He felt this was the course of action to take," Mr McKail said.
"This defendant was, to a certain degree, exploited by his then personal circumstances.
"He was in a desperate position."
Cobo was jailed for 15 months, after admitting producing cannabis. Mr McKail said Cobo awaits deportation after serving his sentence.
"This was undoubtedly a very valuable crop," Judge Patrick Field QC told Cobo.
"There was also evidence that a new crop was being prepared.
"In essence, you were a farm hand, who received very little reward for what you did.
"It is clear, however, that you were not legally in this country, and that you knew very well that what you were doing was wrong.
"You knew that you were breaking the law. You made a very poor decision to do that."
