Ballarat Law Courts
A MAN built a secret room at his house to hide a drug operation from his kids, a court has heard.
Nintingbool man James Muscat, 41, appeared at the Ballarat Magistrates Court today, where he pleaded guilty to drug and weapon charges.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Kent told the court that Muscat had constructed a wall across his carport to create a new room, which could only be entered by crawling though a small space.
Senior Constable Kent said police located the secret room in June this year, which contained various hydroponics and lighting equipment used to grow cannabis.
The court heard between May and August 2011, Muscat used the room to grow four cannabis plants for personal use.
It was revealed that when police raided the property this year, they found dried remnants of the plants and the hydroponics equipment still within the room.
Senior Constable Kent said police also located an unregistered air rifle, ammunition and an opium poppy flower, which Muscat said was cut from his garden.
Muscat's defence lawyer said his client was using cannabis to alleviate a medical condition. He said the room was constructed because Muscat didn't want his five children from discovering what he was doing.
Magistrate Michelle Hodgson adjourned sentencing to have Muscat assessed for a community corrections order.