Nowra dog breeder Jason Elliott pleads guilty to cultivating cannabis crop

A dog breeder busted growing cannabis at his rural NSW south coast property ended up on the radar of police after he started illegally siphoning “unmetered” electricity, a court has learned.

Dog breeder Jason Shane Elliott pleaded guilty at Nowra Local Court (pictured) on Tuesday to possessing, cultivating, and supplying cannabis at his Nowra Hill property. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

A Nowra dog breeder and father-of-two who grew cannabis plants in an underground laboratory was giving the illegal drug to friends suffering multiple sclerosis and skin cancer, a court has learned.

Jason Shane Elliott, 45, of Parma, pleaded guilty at Nowra Local Court on Tuesday to possessing, cultivating, and supplying cannabis, as well as possessing a prohibited weapon and diverting electricity from mains power.

Police uncovered the “sophisticated” drug operation during a search of Elliott’s rural property near Nowra Hill on October 26, agreed police facts reveal.

“While searching the property, police located in a renovated shed heat lamps, heaters, and wooden frame racks used for drying cannabis,” agreed facts reveal. “On the ground there was also 60g of loose cannabis.

“Elliott told officers the cannabis was for personal use, as he had a ‘sore back and trouble sleeping’, and that it was from a small plant he had been growing ‘out the back’.”

But, while searching a shipping container 200m from the main home, police were alerted to the smell of marijuana and a humming sound coming from under the floor.

“Police located a hole in the floor which lead downward into a second shipping container,” agreed facts reveal.

“Inside, there were six mature cannabis plants at 1.5m in height and starting to flower.

Nowra Local Court. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

“In a rear section, another six smaller plants about 30cm high were located.

“The container was fitted with numerous 1000w heat lamps, reflectors, fans, and a watering system.

“Elliott stated: ‘you got me’, before telling officers he was also giving cannabis to friends who suffered MS, skin cancer, and other ailments. He claimed there was no monetary gain.”

The hydroponic set-up was being powered by mains power siphoned from a nearby power pole, agreed police facts revealed. The bypass allowed Elliott to drawn unmetered electricity from the grid.

In the main house, police also located a black hooded jumper fitted with ballistic-style panels.

Commercially available in the US, the “Wonder Hoodie” was one of two purchased by Elliott.

Elliott told officers he hand purchased the “bulletproof vest” as his wife had recently taken up hunting and had received a firearms licence. He said he was unaware it was illegal, categorised in NSW as a prohibited weapon.

In sentencing, lawyer Brett Ford said Elliott suffered regular back pain owing to a previous car accident.

“He is a proponent of the use of cannabis,” Mr Ford said.

“He intended to grow the plants to distil for cannabinoid oil.”

Mr Ford said the charge of drug supply was added only because of Elliott’s own acknowledgment he gave the cannabis leaf to friends, but said there was no evidence any such handover had actually happened.

Magistrate Lisa Viney acknowledged that while the number of plants was limited, the nature of the hydroponic set-up, from water systems to heating and drying, showed a “level of sophistication”.

Ms Viney fined Elliott $1500, and ordered him to undertake a 12-month community corrections order.