Anthony James Cooper pleads guilty to cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis

A northern suburbs marijuana grower decided enough was enough when he noticed three of his plants had been stolen.

A dope grower who made the “unusual” decision to call police after three plants were stolen from a northern suburbs property only alerted the authorities to the rest of his commercial crop.

In the District Court of South Australia on Thursday, Anthony James Cooper, 26, received a suspended prison term of two years and one month for cultivating a commercial quantity of a controlled plant, possessing prescribed equipment and diverting electricity from a power system.

The man, who lives in Keith, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing.

On Thursday, Judge Jo-Anne Deuter said the circumstances of his offending on September 19, 2019 at Elizabeth Vale were “unusual”.

An earlier submissions hearing on October 5 revealed the accused called police after he found three plants missing.

“The fact you brought police to your home, where you were illegally cultivating cannabis, demonstrates a significant lack of planning and thought on your behalf,” Judge Deuter said on Thursday.

A court heard Cooper had 18 “healthy and strong” cannabis plants growing at an Elizabeth Vale property. Picture: File

“I accept that your operation lacked some sophistication. However, it was still a commercial enterprise.”

The court heard Mr Cooper had cultivated the 18 “health and strong” plants – across three grow rooms – to service a “substantial” drug debt of around $7000.

And combined with being unemployed, and dealing with the break up of a six-year relationship, “you could see no way out of your situation”, Judge Deuter said.

The court heard Cooper began using meth and cannabis from about 15 years of age and by 18 he was a “daily user”.

For Cooper at the October hearing, Carrie Demertzis said her client’s use increased around 2017 after a significant motorbike accident which badly injured his shoulder and rotator cuff.

“At around the time of this offending he was using the most that he ever was in his life,” Ms Demertzis said.

“He was buying on credit and that debt had accumulated to a point that it was beyond what Mr Cooper could reasonably pay being on Centrelink benefits.

“There is certainly no indication that Mr Cooper had indeed even obtained any money from this as yet.

“It wasn’t done to support a lavish lifestyle.”

Cooper’s use of drugs escalated after a significant motorcycle accident around 2017. Picture: File.

However, for the prosecution, Isabelle Mickan earlier told the court the accused’s offending resembled a commercial operation and the cannabis was grown for more than just to service a drug debt.

Despite this, Judge Deuter said on Thursday there was a good reason to suspend Cooper’s sentence, due to his willingness to plead guilty early, his progress with rehabilitation, job prospects for the future and work history and lack of previous offending.

She also said it was “not an elaborate operation” and the number of plants was on the “low side of a commercial operation”.

“You were forthcoming with police from the very beginning,” Judge Deuter said.

Cooper received a two-year good behaviour bond and a non-parole period of 15 month was set.