Trent Anthony Malcolm jailed after raid revealed weed crops

A father found growing more than 100 marijuana plants fidgeted and cried in a Coast court while being sentenced for a string of drug offences.

Trent Anthony Malcolm was growing 111 marijuana plants and possessed a further 17.8kg of the drug when police raided a property on June 10, last year. Picture: Robyn Beck/AFP.

A father found growing more than 100 marijuana plants fidgeted and cried in a Coast court while being sentenced for a string of drug offences.

Trent Anthony Malcolm was growing 111 marijuana plants and possessed a further 17.8kg of the drug when police raided a Cootharaba property on June 10, last year.

Crown prosecutor Ambyr Cousen told the court there were hydroponic setups being used to grow marijuana in five locations on the property.

“He produced the cannabis plants in his bedroom, in the caravan and in the garage area and this was a total of 2.81kg of cannabis … in various states of growth,” she said.

Malcolm was found to be in possession of the 17.851kg of marijuana found near a dam and in a shipping container.

Ms Cousen said 0.52g of methylamphetamine, water pipes, glass smoking pipes, scales and used syringes were also found during the raid.

She told the court the 39-year-old had drug offences on his Queensland and New South Wales criminal history and had breached court orders when charged for the Cootharaba offences.

Messages found on Malcolm’s phone and iPad showed he had supplied or offered to supply methylamphetamine, marijuana and GBH on several occasions between January 2018 and October 2019.

On October 4, 2019, he offered to supply 7g of a substance containing methylamphetamine for $1000.

Ms Cousens suggested an 18-month prison sentence for the supplying offences and other concurrent prison sentences for the production and possessing charges.

‘I’ll stab you’: Victim resuscitated after knifed four times

Man who allegedly assaulted late brother taken to hospital

Malcolm pleaded guilty in Maroochydore District Court on Friday to offences including 10 counts of supplying, producing and possessing dangerous drugs.

Barrister David Crews told the court the father of two started using marijuana socially when he was in Year 9 and was now prescribed medicinal marijuana to assist with anxiety.

Mr Crews said the supplying offences were at the lower end of the scale.

“He was … using drugs with like-minded people on the weekend and it was the fact that he knew the contacts to get the drugs,” Mr Crews said.

“He was an intermediary rather than actively trying to run a business …”

He said an 18-month prison sentence with an immediate parole release date would adequately punish the father who had employment prospects.

He said parole would provide Malcolm with supervision.

Malcolm cried after being sentenced to 18 months in jail to be released on parole on July 30.

Judge Gary Long said the extent and repetition of the offences couldn’t be ignored.

Originally published as Trent Anthony Malcolm jailed after raid revealed weed crops