Gary Holt faces Gladstone court on five drugs charges

A Clinton dad busted with “large” drug grow tents in a bedroom at his home has faced a Gladstone court on five charges.

A Clinton father has faced Gladstone Magistrates Court on five drugs charges. Generic image.

A former concreter has faced court after police busted him with a drug-growing set-up inside his Clinton home.

Gary Robert Charles Holt, 52, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 3 to producing and possessing dangerous drugs, possessing property acquired to commit a drug offence, possessing instructions for producing dangerous drugs, and possessing drug utensils.

Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said about 11.30pm on December 4 last year, police attended Holt’s Clinton residence in relation to another matter.

Ms Leach said while officers were inside the residence, they saw two “large” cannabis grow tents in a bedroom.

The prosecutor said inside one of the tents, police found two cannabis plants - 73cm and 67cm in height.

Ms Leach said both plants had been harvested with stems cut off them.

The court heard that inside the residence, police also found 322.5g of marijuana and six cannabis seeds.

Officers also seized five books which contained instructions on how to care for cannabis plants.

Ms Leach said Holt had used the books to grow the plants.

Police also seized a water pipe, electric scales, and items used to help grow cannabis including plastic boxes, carbon filters, ducting, lights, fertiliser, drying racks and electric leads.

Ms Leach said throughout the police investigation, Holt was co-operative and forthcoming with information, and he told police he grew the cannabis to self-medicate as he could not afford the medicinal variety.

The court heard Holt had no prior offending of this sort on his one-page criminal history.

Solicitor Rio Ramos said that in 2003, Holt suffered a back injury while working as a concreter and the cannabis was for his personal use to assist with pain.

Ms Ramos said Holt, who moved to Gladstone four years ago to be closer to his children, was now on a pension and weaning himself off cannabis.

Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined Holt $1000 and no conviction was recorded.