ACT Supreme Court Justice John Burns has told a man convicted for his role in a drug growing operation, people like him need to be deterred.
Justice Burns has sentenced Matthew Mayberry, 31, to six months in jail, after he pleaded guilty to cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis.
Mayberry’s role was to water the crop of more than 100 hydroponic cannabis plants in an O’Connor home.
Justice Burns told the court Mayberry was caught after a police surveillance operation.
The plants were found growing in the bedrooms of the house and a shed in the garden as part of a sophisticated operation.
He had gone into the business because he was desperate for money and needed to pay off debts accumulated after doing up a car.
Justice Burns told Mayberry he appreciated he was not an organiser, but those who grow cannabis rely on people like him.
Justice Burns said he recognised Mayberry’s remorse, but noted it did not extend to saying who else was involved.
Mayberry will not be eligible for release until March 2014, when he will be placed on a good behaviour bond.
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