Shane Worrall: Man told he’s lucky to still have wife by Judge during weapon, drug charge sentence
It was a comment that saw a small chuckle from the courtroom, a Newcastle Judge giving advice to a Lake Macquarie man taking up a home detention order, during a sentencing for drug and firearm charges. He told him he should be thankful his wife is sticking with him.
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In a final order given to a Lake Macquarie man over his suitability for home detention after being sentenced on firearm, weapon and drugs charges, a Newcastle Judge has offered some helpful advice on being “squeaky clean”.
Judge Roy Ellis also followed that up with some lighthearted comments which led to a courtroom chuckle.
“You have put your wife through enough and she is sticking with you, but it’s a bit like a rubber band, if it stretches too much it breaks,” Judge Roy Ellis said.
“You’re batting above your average in any event with your wife.”
Shane James Worrall, 37, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing prohibited weapons and firearms, supplying cannabis and enhanced indoor cultivate cannabis for commercial purposes.
Worrall found it cheaper to start growing marijuana at home, so he could make his own cannabis oil for medicinal purposes, after telling the court he starting using cannabis for pain relief following major surgery.
The only thing was, when the 37-year-old was caught by police, he on bail for other offences relating to defrauding a fundraising scheme set up to help drought-stricken farmers, where police alleged he misappropriated funds from donation appeal, Fill a Truck for Farmers.
Worrall had three fraud charges dropped while he pleaded guilty to conducting a fundraising appeal without authority and was fined.
When police went to slap a firearms prohibition order on him on May 23 last year, they not only uncovered cannabis plants but also firearms and weapons, the court heard.
During the search of his Boolaroo home, police discovered a hydroponic set-up, with 34 cannabis plants and almost two kilograms of cannabis leaf.
They also seized three prohibited firearms and several prohibited weapons including a taser, knuckle duster, ammunition and blow darts. He was arrested and charged.
In August he was sentenced to a two and a half year intensive corrections order (ICO) but had to come back to Newcastle District Court on Friday to learn whether he was suitable to serve a 12 month home detention order.
Worrall’s solicitor negotiated some conditions to ensure he could remain compliant which included an ankle monitoring bracelet and curfew due to the nature of his employment as a concrete truck driver, and allowing him to pick up his kids from childcare each day as his wife worked.
He is also required to abstain from taking any illicit substances.