A Black Hill man who was growing cannabis to support his daily habit has been given one chance to avoid jail.
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Harry Patterson, 26, of Moola Street, pleaded guilty to a string of drug related charges, including possessing and cultivating cannabis, at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Monday.
The court heard police found two tents with sophisticated hydroponic set ups and 33 cannabis plants of varying sizes and maturity levels at the accused’s Moola Street address in April.
Another 18 smaller plants were located in the lounge room, 88.8g in the kitchen and 62.9g in a glass jar dropped in the garden by Patterson as he ran from the house when he saw police.
A single Roman firework candle was also found in a wardrobe. Another 50g of cannabis was also found during a second search of the house on June 17.
On the same day Patterson was charged with using his phone while driving after he was caught on the phone driving into his driveway.
Patterson told police he smoked cannabis daily and had been growing the drug for a short time for his own use.
His lawyer Scott Belcher told the court his client had made significant changes in his life since being charged with the offences.
Mr Belcher said Patterson was unemployed at the time and there “wasn’t much going on in his day”.
He said Patterson, who now has a job, realised there was more to life than smoking drugs.
“He is making significant strides towards his own rehabilitation,” he said.
“He is well on the way to becoming substance free.”
He added Patterson was due to move from the house and has chosen to stay away from “undesirable” associates.
Submitting his client was an appropriate person for a community corrections order (CCO), Mr Belcher also asked the magistrate to consider the fact no cannabis was found growing during the second search of the house.
Magistrate Gregory Robinson placed Patterson on an 18-month CCO with orders to complete 100 hours of community work within the first year and to undergo treatment for drug use.
He was also fined $500 for possessing cannabis and $455 for using a phone while driving.
“You have come close to going to jail,” Mr Robinson said.
“You can expect this is the last time you will have a chance to serve a sentence within the community.”
