A POLICE raid on a Bunkers Hill property uncovered firearms, stolen motorbikes and a two-room drug set-up, a court has heard.
Benjamin James Kors, 22, and Johannes Hoogstra, 61, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday over the raid, which was carried out on December 19 last year.
After magistrate Michelle Hodgson told Kors to take off his jumper because it was offensive, a summary of the pair’s offending was read to the court.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Ivan Blomeley said that when police executed a warrant at the Bunkers Hill home, which Hoogstra owned and Kors rented, they found drugs scattered across it.
At least 15 bags of off-white powder were located in different places, as well as a two-room hydroponics set-up in the rear shed.
There police found four small cannabis seedlings, five mature cannabis plants measuring over a metre each and a bag holding 162 grams of cannabis.
Six motorbikes or scooters were also found, as well as two .22 calibre rifles and a cadet air rifle.
Defence lawyer Mike Wardell said the drugs belonged to Kors, while Hoogstra had become involved because he owned the property.
“He (Hoogstra) takes responsibility that ultimately they (Kors and other renters) were at the property he owned and ultimately he lost control of who and what was there,” Mr Wardell said.
Mr Wardell admitted Kors had suffered drug troubles, but said it was “not alleged that he was profiting from it in any way”.
Ms Hodgson adjourned sentencing for Kors to October 30 so a pre-sentence report could be compiled, saying she was most concerned about the cannabis crop and the “significant” amount of drugs on the property.
Meanwhile, Hoogstra was given a 12-month community corrections order including 100 hours of unpaid community work.
Kors pleaded guilty to seven charges including cultivating cannabis and possessing and using amphetamines, while Hoogstra pleaded guilty to a single count of dealing property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
