Ned Kelly Voakes gets suspended sentence for drug-manufacturing operation that blew up Camden Park unit

He shares his name with Australia’s legendary outlaw, but this Ned Kelly’s claim to infamy is a drug dream that detonated a house. See the video.

His namesake is Australia’s most famous outlaw – a legendary bushranger who met his end with the immortal words “such is life”.

By comparison, the crimes of Adelaide’s own Ned Kelly are, in the words of the District Court, “extremely unsophisticated” – and far more explosive.

On January 17, 2020, police and MFS crews attended a Camden Park unit complex after one of the dwellings unexpectedly detonated.

Inside, crews found Ned Kelly Voakes sporting burns to 14 per cent of his body – caused, like the explosion itself, by his homemade cannabis oil distillation set-up.

On Thursday, Judge Liesl Kudelka said Voakes’ DIY solution to his cannabis habit could have had far greater consequences.

Ned Kelly Voakes outside the District Court, after he received a suspended sentence for a drug-manufacturing operation that blew up a Camden Park unit. Picture: Sean Fewster

“You could not get good cannabis for smoking and had never done the process before … your idea was to convert 1.175kg of very cheap, low-grade cannabis to a more potent form,” she said.

“The truth is you were trying to extract cannabis oil using butane canisters, an electric hotplate, a frying pan and a cigarette lighter … it was unsophisticated, rudimentary and dangerous.”

Voakes, 29, of Camden Park, pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing a controlled drug.

The offence carries a maximum fine of $30,000, a prison term of seven years, or both.

In sentencing on Thursday, Judge Kudelka said Voakes had been addicted to cannabis since the age of 18 and smoked “an ounce a day”.

She noted he had never been employed but had taken steps to address his post-traumatic stress, caused by the explosion, and addiction issues.

“I’m sure that explosion scared the living daylights out of you (and that) you don’t want to go to jail,” she said.

“It’s best to get that dealt with through professional help, not self-medicating with cannabis.

“You spent almost a month in hospital … I accept this experience has had a statutory effect on you.”

Judge Kudelka suspended Voakes’ 13-month prison term on condition of a three-year good behaviour bond – and ordered he perform 80 hours of community service.

“You need to get a job but, in the meantime, you need to do some good things for the community,” she said.

“I don’t want to see you back in this court.”