Gregory Parslow received a suspended sentence for growing marijuana to fuel his gambling addiction

A man was operating a commercial marijuana operation worth over $20,000 on the side of his fatherly duties and job to fuel his overwhelming gambling addiction.

A gambling addict caught with over $20,000 of marijuana has been given another chance after proving he’s turned his life around.

Gregory Mark Parslow, 40, avoided jail in the Adelaide District Court last week for his commercial marijuana operation that he operated in secret.

The court heard police received information that Parslow was growing marijuana and searched his Happy Valley house on August 9, 2020.

Gregory Parslow was handed a suspended sentence for commercial drug trafficking. Picture: Facebook

“You answered the door and you told police that you were growing four cannabis plants in a rear shed,” Judge Joana Fuller said during sentencing.

Police found hydroponic setup equipment, marijuana packaged into pound lots and over $14,000 in cash.

“Police located further quantities of dried cannabis and the total of cannabis found at your premises was 4.62kg,” Judge Fuller said.

“You told police that the cash that was seized was the winnings from horse racing and that you had accumulated that over the last six months to a year.”

The court heard the estimated value of the dried marijuana found at Parslow’s property was between $22,000 and $27,000.

Parslow, of Happy Valley, had previously pleaded guilty to multiple offences including commercial drug trafficking and cultivating controlled plants for sale.

The court heard Parslow had been a daily user of marijuana but is now abstinent from drugs.

“The genesis of your offending was your longstanding gambling addiction,” Judge Fuller said.

“At some point after your divorce in 2018 and before your arrest, you decided to try and fund your worsening gambling addiction through the sale of cannabis.”

The court heard Parslow, who is a father-of-two had been employed in the farming industry for over 20 years.

“When the children were in your care, your focus was solely upon them and your work,” Judge Fuller said.

“You were, and continue to be, heavily involved in their schooling and their participation in club football.

“However, during the three days that they were not in your care and when you were not working, your gambling addiction occupied your time.”

The court heard Parslow had undergone cognitive therapy and is now no longer a gambling addict.

“Although yours was a commercial operation, the driver was not pure profit or greed in the traditional sense, but a gambling addiction that had overwhelmed your life,” Judge Fuller said.

“Your offending in turn, clearly exploited the weaknesses of others who suffered from a different addiction, a drug addiction.”

Joana Fuller sentenced Parslow to four years and 11 months in jail, with a non-parole period of two years and two months.

The sentence was suspended on a two year good behaviour bond for $100.

Parslow was also fined $2400.

“You have successfully overcome what was clearly a powerful and consuming addiction and you have rehabilitated,” Judge Fuller said.