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Robin Paul Trenberth pleads guilty to growing 11 cannabis plants at his Ungarra home

A leafy green surprise was uncovered in a tiny Eyre Peninsula town when a man gave cops a tour of his garden, a court has heard.

Operation Kraken: Police open two bags full of cannabis and ecstasy

When the police came knocking on a dope grower’s door, an Ungarra man invited them in to check out his crop, a court has heard.

Robin Paul Trenberth, 61, pleaded guilty to cultivating more than a prescribed number of cannabis plants in the Port Lincoln Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Police prosecutor Mick Hart told the court officers were called to the property north of Port Lincoln where they discovered 11 active plants on April 15 last year.

When police arrived, the accused proceeded to show them the eight plants in his yard, two in the garden bed and one in an enclosed area on the property.

Robin Paul Trenberth pleaded guilty on Thursday to cultivating 11 cannabis plants. Picture: File
Robin Paul Trenberth pleaded guilty on Thursday to cultivating 11 cannabis plants. Picture: File

Trenberth’s defence lawyer Justin Slater submitted the plants were intended for personal use which he “drinks in the form of tea” grown with seeds he purchased online.

Mr Slater told the court his client experienced mental and physical health challenges claiming he required daily cannabis as a source of pain relief.

During sentencing Magistrate Karim Soetratma considered Trenberth’s “significant pain” and said “there is no allegation you were in any way trafficking cannabis, but parliament says unless you have an exemption it’s a punishable offence”.

The court heard the maximum penalty for the offence was $2000, two years imprisonment or both.

“I think about whether it’s a matter in which imprisonment is warranted,” Magistrate Soetratma said.

“I think that there are penalties other than imprisonment and the matter can be dealt with by releasing you on bond to be of good behaviour.”

Magistrate Soetratma recorded a conviction and ordered Trenberth serve a 12 month good behaviour bond for the sum of $250.

He also ordered the 11 plants for forfeiture and said “I would stress you don’t grow any more cannabis during those 12 months” at the risk of “substantially worse penalties”.

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/port-lincoln/robin-paul-trenberth-pleads-guilty-to-growing-11-cannabis-plants-at-his-ungarra-home/news-story/f3af5727399aac127d0c41a8caf17ff2