Former couple Timothy Cullen and Samantha Holota charged over alleged meth lab at Clovelly Park

A father who was allegedly cooking meth as a side hustle alongside his former partner will have more freedom on bail.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Charges against  Samantha Holota have been dropped.

A mechanic who was allegedly running a southern suburbs drug lab as a side hustle had his bail conditions relaxed in court.

Timothy Scott Cullen, 51, and his former partner Samantha Holota, 37, are alleged to have been cooking meth after they were found at an abandoned car workshop on South Road at Clovelly Park.

A prosecutor told the Adelaide Magistrates Court they were opposed to removing Mr Cullen’s home detention conditions as requested by his lawyer, saying it was a strong case against him.

The court heard Mr Cullen was arrested at the property on September 19 and allegedly found with four bags, containing 12g of methamphetamine in his underwear.

It is further alleged officers found the lab “hiding in plain sight” full of chemicals and equipment used for the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Police investigated and dismantled the clan lab at an abandoned workshop on South Road, Clovelly Park. Picture: Mark Brake

Mr Cullen and Ms Holota were released on bail, charged with running the lab. Picture: Mark Brake

Police said the lab was hiding in plain sight. Picture: Mark Brake

Police then searched Mr Cullen’s house and allegedly found further methamphetamine and three gel blasters.

Mr Cullen, of Bellevue Heights, and Ms Holota, of Mitchell Park, are charged with drug trafficking, manufacturing a controlled drug for sale and possessing firearms.

The court heard Cullen received a suspended jail term in 2006 for taking part in the production of a controlled substance

Andrew Moffa, for Mr Cullen, told the court his client was a qualified motor mechanic.

“His employment has really been compromised by home detention bail conditions,” he said.

The court heard Cullen was working for his elderly father’s business, with his father in poor health and anxious to retire.

“He really needs to get to a position to pass it on to his son,” Mr Moffa said.

The court heard Mr Cullen shared an 11-year-old son with Ms Holota, who was his former de facto partner.

Mr Moffa asked to delete the non-contact clause between the pair as orchestrating the care of their son with it in place had been very difficult.

Mr Moffa said Mr Cullen had returned negative drug tests while on bail and his prior drug conviction was a “long, long time ago”.

“Your Honour would have been very young then,” he said.

“I’m very young now Mr Moffa,” Magistrate Karim Soetratma replied.

Mr Soetratma removed Mr Cullen’s home detention bail conditions and placed him on supervised bail.

The charges were adjourned until July, where Mr Cullen and Ms Holota will be expected to enter pleas.