Michael Childs pleads guilty to drug supply, cultivating cannabis plants at Bishops Bridge home

Police raided a granny flat near Maitland on an unrelated matter only to uncover a haul of drugs and cash, including meth, MDMA and cannabis plants. Read the details.

Michael Childs pleaded guilty in Newcastle Local Court. Supplied Amy Ziniak

Hidden inside the roof cavity of a granny flat, police uncovered a treasure trove of drugs and cash near Maitland.

Officer raided the home of 31-year-old Michael John Childs, at Bishops Bridge, on January 7 last year on an unrelated matter but in fact discovered a haul of drugs including meth, MDMA and cannabis plants.

Police facts detailed that a black bag was found hidden inside the roof cavity wrapped in electrical tape.

When they opened it, they discovered almost $50,000, several plastic knotted bags with meth, 52 grams of cannabis leaf and more than 150 grams of MDMA, according to court documents.

Meth was found throughout the granny flat when police raided it on January 7, 2023. Istock.

Cannabis leaf and plants was also found at the granny flat. Istock.

A search of the flat also revealed meth hidden in the fridge and freezer, vials of anabolic steroids in the bathroom and 40-50cm tall cannabis plants in a grow tent at the residence.

Police facts also said officers located several items of drug paraphernalia including a 2021 diary containing names and weights, a book titled ‘The Australian Drug Guide’, phone, bottles of fertiliser, packaged pots and a notebook with a tick list.

The only thing he admitted to police was that the cannabis was for his own use, according to court documents.

In Newcastle Local Court, Childs pleaded guilty to drug supply, which included a charge of supplying a commercial quantity, dealing with the proceeds of crime and cultivating a prohibited plant.

Three drug possession offences will be related charges, while four other drug supply charges were withdrawn.

Childs will front Newcastle’s District Court later this month for a sentence date to be set.