Benjamin Sculac busted growing weed in West Cooroy State Forest

A detail on a mechanic's phone has led police to the location of more than 100 weed plants in a remote Sunshine Coast forest. Read how they found his crop.

A mechanic and repeat offender was busted growing 116 mature cannabis plants after police tracked down his hidden crop using his mobile phone.

Benjamin Mathew Sculac, now 29, was sentenced in Maroochydore District Court on Monday, September 26, 2022 to six months’ prison after pleading guilty to producing a dangerous drug in excess of 500g.

The Crown prosecutor said police searched his home on February 5, 2021, and seized his mobile phone which had images associated with his cannabis plants.

Data linked to one particular image was able to lead police to the growing plants in the West Cooroy State Forest.

Officers went to the location on February 8 and found 116 cannabis plants ranging from 1m-2m tall, four empty fertiliser bottles and a beer can.

With the roots removed, the plants weighed a total of 18.5kg.

Ms Moss said the location of the crop showed an “attempt to avoid detection” by Sculac.

Benjamin Sculac

Judge Gary Long said the operation did not appear to be one of great sophistication as the plants weren’t arranged in any organised way.

“The production was for personal use,” Judge Long said.

Defence barrister Jenna Bonner said her client had a very difficult upbringing as he was abused by his violent step father and suffered insomnia as a result of that trauma.

Ms Bonner said Sculac was diagnosed with PTSD and suffered back pain, which he used cannabis to assist with.

She told the court Sculac’s time in custody had been “hell” as he was assaulted on multiple occasions due to his biological father’s sentence for torture and deprivation of liberty.

Judge Long said Sculac had been previously dealt with for producing cannabis and was on parole for dangerous operation when he commited the most recent offending.

The court heard Sculac’s parole was cancelled on May 6, 2022, and he had been in custody since.

Judge Long ordered Sculac serve six months’ prison that would be cumulative upon his previous sentence, with a parole eligibility date of November 6, 2022.

A conviction was recorded.