Alan Dean Barnard: Man claims to run backyard ice rehab, says taser for agoraphobic wife

A South Burnett man busted with a stash of drugs, utensils, and illegal weapons on his property has claimed he uses most of the items to run a ‘Men’s Shed’ for ice addicts or defend his family from threats.

A South Burnett man busted with a drug stash and several illegal weapons on his property has claimed he needed the items to run a rehab facility in his backyard and protect his family from neighbourly threats.

Police searched Alan Dean Barnard’s home on April 4, uncovering 15g marijuana along with a marijuana plant and assorted drug utensils.

Murgon Magistrates Court heard the man was also busted with a flick knife, butterfly knife, and illegal taser.

A self-represented Barnard said his wife suffered from severe agoraphobia and had been threatened by neighbours several times, claiming the couple once waited 45 minutes for police to arrive after calling triple-0.

“Well my family would be dead by that point so we bought a taser,” he said.

Barnard said he used marijuana to self-medicate, but claimed that some of the drug utensils belonged to other residents who visited the makeshift rehabilitation facility on his property.

“I run an impromptu Men’s Shed for guys who are struggling with ice, for which I have a 98 per cent success rate,” he said.

“But I allow them to smoke a few cones to get all the stress out, the anger out so they can go home to their families.”

Barnard pleaded guilty to one count each of producing and possessing dangerous drugs, permitting use of place, possessing drug utensils, drug driving, and possessing category R and M weapons.

He was fined $1100 and was disqualified from driving for one month.