A JUDGE showed mercy on two young Vietnamese men who admitted running a drugs factory - because he was convinced they were victims of "modern slavery".

Judge Christopher Mitchell delayed sentencing Long Tran, 20, and a 16-year-old youth, who admitted growing the 336 plants at a house in Kent View Road, Basildon, last month.

He said he feared they had been taken from their families and smuggled into the UK by organised crime gangs.

Yesterday at Basildon Crown Court, Judge Mitchell sentenced Tran to eight months in custody, but because of time he has spent on remand he is expected to be released and deported immediately.

The teenage defendant was given a community order, with six months supervision, in the hope he will be given support and protection.

Judge Mitchell told the younger men: "I have formed the view having heard something about both of you and about the circumstances in which you were arrested for these offences that you are victims of human trafficking.

"At different times you both have been trafficked in bondage from Vietnam.

"There is no doubt that you (the youngest defendant) were specifically brought to this country to work in a cannabis factory and you Tran, although you have been here since 2004 and may have done other work, you were also ordered to work in this cannabis factory.

"It is in a sense a form of modern slavery.

"What debts your relatives are suffering back in Vietnam I do not know, they are probably considerable."

Judge Michell raised concerns about the defendants after reading an article in The Times newspaper about a Home Office sponsored study, which identified young Vietnamese people being trafficked to the UK in debt bondage to work in cannabis factories.

It is believed the youth was taken from his family in Hanoi in January, flown to Russia and bundled in the back of a lorry before travelling through Europe to the UK.