Police called out to a suspected burglary discovered over 250 cannabis plants growing in the property, Birmingham Crown Court was told.
Failed asylum seeker, Jun Tang, who acted as a "gardener'' for the plants, was jailed for nine months.
The 33-year-old of Sandon Road, Hockley, had previously admitted a charge of producing cannabis.
Jill Scaplehorn, prosecuting, said in August last year, following a 999 call, police went to an address in Stourdell Road, Cradley Heath.
Finding a rear kitchen window open, they entered the property and upstairs in three bedrooms found 269 mature cannabis plants about three feet in height.
It was noted that they had already been harvested and the estimated yield was between four and six kilos.
Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC, said it was a serious offence but accepted Tang had to some extent been forced to carry out the illegal activity.
