Pensioner, 79, grew cannabis to supplement income

[Hash]

A 79-YEAR-OLD pensioner with no prior convictions was sentenced to six months' jail yesterday after admitting growing cannabis in his Wendouree backyard.

Police found 14 cannabis plants and a quantity of cannabis seeds at William Rose's Romney St property on February 11, this year.

Police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Damon Saunders told the court the plants were growing in Rose's backyard and were about 1m tall.

During his record of interview, Rose told police he had grown the plants "to see if I could make a couple of dollars to supplement the pension".

Rose yesterday pleaded guilty in Ballarat Magistrates Court to trafficking, cultivating and possessing cannabis.

Defence lawyer Neale Gribble told the court while his client had pleaded guilty to trafficking cannabis, he had not actually carried out any transactions.

Mr Gribble said Rose was struggling to live on a sole pension income and had come to court as a first-offender.

He said Rose had been cooperative with police, making full admissions during his interview, and urged the court not to incarcerate his client.

Magistrate James Mornane said while the circumstances of the offending suggested Rose was being manipulated by others, principals of general deterrence loomed large.

"Sometimes when an elderly person is before the court, even for the first time, principals of general deterrence require that they receive a term of imprisonment," he told Rose.

Rose was convicted and sentenced to six months' jail, with five months suspended for 18 months.

He appealed the decision and was released on bail.


The Courier
http://www.thecourier.com.au/detail....ws&m=11&y=2004