Rhys Hancock: Tamborine man busted producing drugs in ‘sophisticated’ home set-up

A 31-year-old Tamborine man caught growing cannabis in a “sophisticated” hydroponic set-up set up in his spare bedroom has narrowly avoided jail.

A 31-year-old Tamborine man caught growing cannabis in a “sophisticated” hydroponic set-up set up in his spare bedroom has narrowly avoided jail.

Rhys Hancock, 31, pleaded guilty in district court at Beenleigh on Thursday to six charges including producing dangerous drugs in excess of 500 grams, possessing dangerous drugs and unlawfully possessing a relevant substance.

Rhys Hancock leaving Beenleigh courthouse.

The court heard police found 26 cannabis plants weighing 1.23kg with roots removed and 1.22 grams of cannabis during a search of Hancock’s home on October 20, 2019

He had converted two bedrooms in the house into large hydroponic growing rooms, only one of which appeared to be active at the time of the search.

Police found one of the bedrooms had a hydroponic set up with large tents and equipment that had produced the cannabis plants, which appeared to be 6-8 weeks old.

There were also various items of equipment found like lights, extraction fans, pumps, dry racks and various chemicals.

Police described it as a sophisticated set-up.

An illicit laboratory investigation was undertaken and authorities also found glassware in the garage and kitchen and traces of the dangerous drug DMT was detected on a number of these items.

A clip seal plastic bag containing traces of methamphetamine was also found.

Judge Craig Chowdhury said he accepted that he was growing the drugs for the purpose of supporting his personal use.

“Cannabis is not the benign drug that a lot of people think it is,” he said.

“Obviously with your history, it’s a real matter of concern and you’ve really got to put a stop to this.”

Hancock’s lawyer told the court his client suffered significant injuries in a motor vehicle accident about 19 months ago where he shattered his sternum.

The court heard Hancock had a relevant criminal history with nine previous convictions for drug possession and one previous for drug production.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment with an immediate parole release date.