After a dramatic attempt to avoid arrest, 21-year-old,Ronalda Cera, was found guilty of producing a Class B drug after smashing through the roof of a property in Sheffield.
The incident unfolded in February 2023, when police received information about cannabis cultivation at a property on Pye Bank Road in Pitsmoor.
Police commissioner Gareth Webb Said: “Cera showed absolutely no regard for those living in neighbouring properties when he escaped onto the roof and ran across their rooftops to avoid arrest. He could have very easily caused significant damage to their properties or injured someone.”
Acting on this information, officers executed a warrant in the early morning hours of this morning, discovering an extensive cannabis factory within the property.
As officers monitored the scene from outside, they observed Cera breaking through the roof tiles from the attic and fleeing across neighbouring rooftops to evade arrest.
Despite initially escaping, Cera was eventually apprehended by officers in the Page Hall area on March 15th, following a period of being on the run. Subsequent investigations revealed an extensive cannabis cultivation operation spanning multiple rooms within the Pitsmoor property, including the cellar, upstairs landing, attic, and two bedrooms.
Police seized over 450 cannabis plants and approximately 11 kilograms of dried cannabis, along with various cultivation equipment.
At a trial held at Sheffield Crown Court in February 2024, Cera was found guilty of drug production.
He was sentenced to 24 months in prison, with the court also ordering his deportation to Albania upon completion of his sentence. PC Gareth Webb, the officer involved in the case, expressed concerns over Cera’s reckless actions and highlighted the impact of cannabis farms on local communities.
PC Webb emphasised the broader implications of cannabis cultivation, noting its association with organised crime and serious violence, and urged the public to remain vigilant in reporting any suspicions of drug-related activities in their communities.