FruityBud
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A Chillingham man had a cannabis crop for his personal use that was big enough to be spotted from the air by helicopter.
Stephen John Phillips was revealed in Murwillumbah Local Court yesterday as a scalp from this months Strike Force Farrelly.
The 43-year-olds crop of 17 plants, which had a street value of $34,000, was spotted in his Chillingham backyard by the police air wing helicopter at 11.30am, February 2.
Phillips pleaded guilty to one charge of drug cultivation yesterday and was fined $500, plus $76 court costs.
Magistrate Michael Dakin also ordered him to enter a two-year good-behaviour bond.
Police facts tendered to the court said five of Phillips plants were 2.5 metres in height and the other 12 each reached one metre.
They are not plants, they are trees, Mr Dakin said of the larger greenery.
He said the number and size of the plants, which had been extensively cultivated, put the offence in the high range.
Mr Dakin also noted Phillips 1984 conviction for drug possession.
In Phillips defence, the court heard he had been working at the Condong Sugar Mill for more than 20 years and had an 11-year-old son.
He was an avid competitor in motorcycle races in his youth and had suffered numerous injuries as a result.
The court heard he smoked cannabis in an effort to reduce chronic pain and to help get to sleep at night.
Operation Farrelly comprised detectives from the State Crime Command Drug Squad, the Tweed/Byron Local Area Command, the NSW Police Air Wing, the Dog Squad and the Radio Electronics Unit.
The Cannabis Eradication Program targeted the areas of Burringbar, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, Uki and surrounding national parks from February 1-5.
A total of 2446 plants, ranging from one to five metres in height, were located. Four men were charged with drug cultivation as a result of the operation.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/yhdweny
Stephen John Phillips was revealed in Murwillumbah Local Court yesterday as a scalp from this months Strike Force Farrelly.
The 43-year-olds crop of 17 plants, which had a street value of $34,000, was spotted in his Chillingham backyard by the police air wing helicopter at 11.30am, February 2.
Phillips pleaded guilty to one charge of drug cultivation yesterday and was fined $500, plus $76 court costs.
Magistrate Michael Dakin also ordered him to enter a two-year good-behaviour bond.
Police facts tendered to the court said five of Phillips plants were 2.5 metres in height and the other 12 each reached one metre.
They are not plants, they are trees, Mr Dakin said of the larger greenery.
He said the number and size of the plants, which had been extensively cultivated, put the offence in the high range.
Mr Dakin also noted Phillips 1984 conviction for drug possession.
In Phillips defence, the court heard he had been working at the Condong Sugar Mill for more than 20 years and had an 11-year-old son.
He was an avid competitor in motorcycle races in his youth and had suffered numerous injuries as a result.
The court heard he smoked cannabis in an effort to reduce chronic pain and to help get to sleep at night.
Operation Farrelly comprised detectives from the State Crime Command Drug Squad, the Tweed/Byron Local Area Command, the NSW Police Air Wing, the Dog Squad and the Radio Electronics Unit.
The Cannabis Eradication Program targeted the areas of Burringbar, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, Uki and surrounding national parks from February 1-5.
A total of 2446 plants, ranging from one to five metres in height, were located. Four men were charged with drug cultivation as a result of the operation.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/yhdweny
