Man fined for drug cultivation

Press, 14 March 1985, Page 16

Man fined for drug cultivation

A fine of $4OO was imposed in the District Court yesterday on a man convicted of cultivating and possessing cannabis. Judge Fogarty said that in default of immediate payment Russell Wayne Richard Harris would spend a month in prison. Harris, aged 25, a driver (Mr T. W. Fournier), admitted the offence. Detective Sergeant B. M. Roswell said when the police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s address a cannabis plant, more than lm high, was found growing in the garden, and a six foot tall cannabis plant was drying in a garage. Sixty grams of cannabis leaf was found in various containers in the house. Harris told the police the drug was for his own use. SEX CHARGE No plea was entered by a man, aged 20, charged with having sexual intercourse with a girl, aged 14, be-

tween March and December, last year. Richard John Seddon, a cleaner (Mr M. J. Glue), was remanded to March 19.

The police say the offending took place at Diamond Harbour. OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR A second man who dropped his trousers and exposed his bare bottom outside a restaurant in Oxford Terrace was fined $2OO.

Stephen Charles Gordon, aged 20, a drainlayer, who admitted behaving in a disorderly manner, apologised to anyone who had been offended by the incident.

The offence took place at 12.05 a.m. on March 9. The defendant, like his cooffender, dealt with earlier this week, had been intoxicated at the time. BURGLARY CHARGE

Bail was set at $4500, and twice weekly reporting to the police was ordered, for a man facing a charge of

breaking and entering the Shirley Medical Centre in Marshland Road on March 12. Mahanui Joseph Matthews, aged 26, a tattooist, did not plead. He was remanded to March 20.

Although bail was not opposed Sergeant Roswell sought two sureties. These were set at $l5OO each. DRUG OFFENCE

Smoking cannabis helped relieve her depression after the loss of her baby, a solo mother of three told the police, said Sergeant Roswell.

Denise Mary Martin, aged 24, was convicted and remanded at large to April 4 for a probation report and sentence.

She admitted cultivating 20 cannabis plants. These were found by the police visiting the defendant’s address on an unrelated matter, said Sergeant Roswell.

Martin said the drug was for her own use.