Alexander Trist sentenced for manufacturing a controlled drug in Northfield

A man’s secret drug lair was discovered by police when he ran from the house on fire and had to be hospitalised for burns after attempting to make cannabis oil.

A man’s illegal activity was uncovered after he set himself on fire while trying to make cannabis oil.

Alexander John Trist, 29, was sentenced in the Adelaide District Court last week for his “somewhat clumsy” operation.

The court heard there was a fire at a Northfield house on May 9, 2018.

“You came out of the room yelling ‘help me’ with your clothes partially on fire and burns to your hands and face,” Judge Geraldine Davison said during sentencing.

Trist’s housemate called the fire brigade who attended and provided treatment to Trist.

“At the hospital, you told the staff that the burns had resulted from the butane canister igniting after it somehow sparked with a lighter,” Judge Davison said.

Trist was treated for flash-burns to his neck, face and hands and was assessed as having 8 per cent total surface burn.

Police attended shortly after and saw that the rumpus room had been damaged in the fire.

“In that room, the police noticed an esky that contained 35 butane canisters,” Judge Davison said.

“You had been manufacturing cannabis oil in that room.”

Alexander Trist was handed a suspended sentence for manufacturing a controlled drug. Picture: AAP Image/Renae Droop

Police found over 20g of cannabis oil.

Trist, of Elizabeth Downs, had previously pleaded guilty to manufacturing a controlled drug.

The court heard Trist was diagnosed with a number of disorders, including ADHD and depression.

“When you completed high school, you turned to cannabis,” Judge Davison said.

“You considered that this was beneficial for you.”

The court heard Trist had a motorcycle accident in 2016 which caused significant injuries to his leg.

“As a consequence of that, you were again placed on pain medication,” Judge Davison said.

“This, once again, made you feel sick, you then began ingesting cannabis to a greater extent.”

Trist then started making cannabis oil.

“Your attempts at making cannabis oil were somewhat clumsy and very much a home-style operation,” Judge Davison said.

“Fortunately, the damage to the house was covered by insurance and it has since been rectified.”

The court heard Trist, who had previously worked as a bar assistant, is now prescribed cannabis legally.

“It goes without saying that manufacturing substances, such as this, comes with its own dangers quite apart from it being an illegal activity,” Judge Davison said.

“You know only too well now, the dangers that it presents, not only to you but to those around you.”

Judge Davison sentenced Trist to two years and four months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and four months.

The sentence was suspended on a two year good behaviour bond, with supervision.

“The offending, whilst it was serious, was not done for any commercial gain on your part but, rather, in an attempt to self-medicate,” Judge Davison said.