Court interpreting shambles continue: new delay in £½m cannabis farm case
A man accused of growing the biggest drug farm ever found in South Tyneside has had another delay in his court case.
Duong Van Nguyen was arrested after being found inside a house in Sunderland Road, South Shields, which had about 400 plants inside, worth at least £500,000.
Police used a search warrant to raid the three-storey property in Harton Village on Thursday morning, and said it was the biggest they had ever come across.
Nguyen, 19, was charged with producing a Class B drug and appeared at court the next day.
But without an interpreter to translate to the non-English speaking Vietnamese, the case could not proceed.
It was adjourned until yesterday, and Nguyen, of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody.
He was back before magistrates yesterday morning but for a second time, no interpreter was available.
Kayleigh Helens, defending, told the court that she had managed to speak to the defendant – using an interpreter over the telephone – and explained that the case would have be adjourned again.
She said: “We can’t progress the case any further today.
“I’ve spoken to him through an interpreter over the phone, and explained the case will have to be adjourned until later in the week.
“The position isn’t ideal, but without an interpreter, all of our hands are tied.”
The case was adjourned until tomorrow and Nguyen remanded in custody until then.