Winter Valley man sells cannabis to make money for his wedding

Police searched 30-year-old Wyatt Peters' Winter Valley home in April 2020 and found a hydroponic set up growing six cannabis plants in his garage.

The court heard there were chemicals to be used for growing and eight cannabis stems already harvested also found in the garage.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Steve Kent said dried cannabis was separated into 21 bags weighing 30 grams, one bag weighing 14 grams and one weighing seven grams.

Police also found 136 grams of cannabis drying on cardboard, meaning a total of almost 800 grams of cannabis was found.

The court heard there were two snaplock bags containing 1.8 grams of powder found in the bedroom that Peters said was cocaine.

There was also $400 cash believed to be the proceeds of crime.

A defence lawyer said Peters had no previous interaction with the criminal justice system since he was 21 and no relevant prior convictions.

She said Peters got married in March and said he had been growing and selling cannabis to make money for the wedding.

"He is under no illusion, trafficking drugs can put him in the picture of a sentence of imprisonment," the lawyer said.

The court heard Peters said he did not use drugs and had been cooperative with police.

Peters works full-time as a concreter. His employer provided a character reference to the court.

The defence lawyer asked the court to consider sentencing Peters to a financial penalty.

"If he gets a large monetary penalty, every time he makes a repayment he will be reminded of why he should never do anything like this again," she said.

Leading Senior Constable Kent said Peters' drug operation was 'sophisticated' and harmful to the community, so general deterrence was important in sentencing.

"For the accused to report marijuana is not a serious drug, there is medical evidence to support it does have detrimental effects," he said.

"He was selling these drugs purely for monetary value, he didn't care about the people it was going to.

"Even though it is his first offence it is serious and general deterrence is important."

Magistrate Letizia Torres said Peters was running a 'commercial enterprise' that required planning and preparation.

"It is extremely serious offending. This is a harmful drug in our community and it is illegal," she said.

"He knew for those reasons it was a lucrative venture.

"He is a person who has made some very poor judgements out of greed."

Peters, who pleaded guilty, will be assessed for a community corrections order and will return to court in May for sentencing.

Ms Torres said all dispositions were on the table at this stage.

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