Kurtis Murray: Fosterton plumber used trade skills to run hydroponic cannabis farm
A second-year apprentice plumber used his trade skills to run hydroponic operation with more than 140 cannabis plants.
Newcastle
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A second-year apprentice plumber used his trade skills to run a hydroponic operation with more than 140 cannabis plants.
Kurtis Wayne Murray pleaded guilty in Raymond Terrace Local Court to cultivating cannabis and possessing a prohibited drug.
Police uncovered the farm during a search of the 26-year-old’s Fosterton home in September.
The court heard Murray relied on his trade knowledge to set up the hydroponic operation.
“This began as personal use and he was ill-advised in what he did,” his lawyer said.
“He has completely ceased using illicit substances.”
Magistrate Brett Shields said it was difficult to believe a “mid-range” operation was for personal consumption.
“The hydroponic set up is a really complex set up,” Mr Shields said.
“There are a lot of plants in there and there’s clearly a lot of planning involved in it.
“Certainly the amount of drugs in there would have to mean you were using an awful lot of drugs.”
Mr Shields said any penalty would have to send a message about cultivating cannabis to the community.
Murray was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order for possessing a prohibited drug.
He’ll be ordered to participate in rehabilitation and face random drug testing.
For cultivating cannabis, Murray was sentenced to 12-months’ imprisonment, to be served in the community as an intensive corrections order.