Mark Phillip Bagley pleaded guilty two drug offences after police found 4.8kg of marijuana on his property

The 66-year-old was found with a ‘large amount’ of drugs in his freezer.

Mark Phillip Bagley appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court on July 2, 2021. Picture: Contributed

A Mackay pensioner claims he boils marijuana “into tea” for pain relief following a knee injury.

Police found 4.8kg of marijuana and three of the drug plants on the 66 year old’s self-sustainable property.

But in court Mark Phillip Bagley was sentenced for less than half that amount.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard police found the 4.8kg of marijuana in the freezer at Bagley’s home.

However the court heard on Friday once police had defrosted the bag of drugs, the weight reduced significantly to 2.31kg.

Bagley pleaded guilty to possessing drugs.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said while it was still a “large amount” she accepted it was for personal use.

The court heard the motorbike mechanic had suffered a knee injury and was on a waiting list for a replacement knee at Mackay Base Hospital.

Bagley said he had trouble sleeping and would “boil cannabis into tea” to get some rest.

Ms Hartigan said the three marijuana plants found in pots were “unsophisticated plants, grown for personal use”.

“You are of good character in recent times, and a hard worker,” Ms Hartigan said.

Bagley was fined $1500 with a conviction recorded.