Muoi Thai, 28, was sentenced in the County Court on Monday after pleading guilty to cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis, dealing with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime, and fraudulent use of a licence.

The court heard on October 2, 2018, police raided a Huntly property on the Midland Highway after identifying an electrical bypass.

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A black Ford wagon was also parked at the property, which was registered to Thai.

Inside the home, officers found 375 cannabis plants weighing 311.59 kilograms, as well as 1.26 kilograms of dried cannabis, lights, chemicals, and other equipment.

The owner of the property showed police a copy of the rental application, which was signed by Thai using an assumed identity.

The owner also showed copies of a learner driving permit and a bank card under Thai's alias.

Officers then identified a link to a second property in Dianella Court, Kangaroo Flat, which was raided on January 7, 2019.

The court heard Thai was at the home but fled when police arrived. Police chased him on foot and then conducted a search in the Kangaroo Flat area.

Thai was found about 30 minutes later hiding in a dog kennel about one kilometre away from the house.

Police searched the Kangaroo Flat property and found 102 cannabis plants, weighing 91.71 kilograms. There was also dried cannabis, a watering system, lights, extractor fans, and other equipment.

A Holden sedan was parked at the property, which officers searched. They found the learner's permit and bank card used in the Huntly rental application, as well as a Vietnamese passport and $999 in cash.

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Police also searched Thai's St Albans home and found equipment for cultivation, including chemicals and extractor fans.

During the record of police interview, Thai did not provide any comment about the Huntly property.

Thai told police he owned the car at the Kangaroo Flat property and that he took care of the cannabis at that house for another person.

The court heard Thai had moved to Australia in 2009 on a two-year student visa. He then obtained a two-year working visa in 2011 but stayed on illegally when it expired in 2013.

The court heard Thai had been working as a tiler but broke his hand, and as an illegal immigrant without money, he turned to someone who had offered help.

The court heard Thai felt indebted to this person, and that was how he became involved with the cannabis operations.

Judge Kevin Doyle said the cultivation charge was a "serious offence" with jail as the only appropriate sentence.

Judge Doyle said while it was clear Thai was not the principal offender at the Huntly or Kangaroo Flat crop houses, it was clear he had a "trusted and critical role" in the operation.

The Judge said he accepted the defence submission that Thai would likely be deported and separated from his partner and son following his release from prison.

Judge Doyle conceded that would have increased the burden and anxiety for Thai during his time on remand.

But the Judge said that mitigating factor was limited as Thai had lived unlawfully in Australia for seven years.

Judge Doyle convicted and sentenced Thai to four years and nine months in jail, with a non-parole period of two years and 10 months.

Thai had spent 679 days in pre-sentence detention, which was reckoned as already served.

If Thai had not pleaded guilty, he would have been jailed for six years and eight months with a non-parole period of four years and 10 months.

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