Jarrod Andrew Deeth in court for producing marijuana, possessing drugs

A Central Queensland man found with methamphetamine and eight marijuana plants claims he was experimenting with drugs following recent deaths in his family.

Jarrod Andrew Deeth.

A Rockhampton man who was found with methamphetamine and eight marijuana plants growing in his home claims he was experimenting with drugs following recent deaths in his family.

Jarrod Andrew Deeth, 30, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on August 28 to four counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each of producing dangerous drugs, contravening an order about information necessary to access information stored electronically, possessing S4 or S8 medicines, possessing utensils or pipes that had been used and possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in Part 2.

Police prosecutor Sergeant David Longhurst said police searched Deeth’s home in Berserker on June 17 and found a hydroponic tent with one marijuana plant, about half a metre tall, growing in a pot in a bedroom.

Sgt Longhurst said police also found six small marijuana plants inside a plastic dog kennel that had been converted into a small grow house in the main living area of the home, as well as a further marijuana plant, about 30cm tall, growing in a pot in the backyard.

Police found in the house 22g of marijuana buds in a glass jar, 1.75g of methamphetamine in a clip seal bag, 10ml vials of testosterone and trenbolone, as well as a glass pipe, water pipe and scales.

Sgt Longhurst said although police found Deeth’s iPhone in the lounge room Deeth claimed he could not remember the PIN for the phone.

Defence lawyer David Mills said his client, who had no criminal history, was suffering from some depression at the time.

Mr Mills said his client, who was a qualified fitter and turner and worked as a workshop supervisor at a Central Queensland mine, was dealing with the recent deaths of his grandparents on both sides of his family and his older brother had also been diagnosed with cancer.

“This was more of an experiment with drugs to accommodate that depressed state he was going through at the time,” he said.

Magistrate Cameron Press sentenced Deeth to six months prison, wholly suspended for 18 months.

Deeth was also ordered to 12 months probation and fined $500 with criminal convictions recorded.