Korumburra Magistrates’ Court: Wonthaggi father and crane operator Gary Thomson faces cannabis charge

A Wonthaggi dad was busted with about 900g of dried cannabis in his car and cannabis plants growing in his backyard veggie patch.

A Wonthaggi man has faced the Korumburra Magistrates’ Court after he was busted with about 900g of dried cannabis in his car and had cannabis plants growing in his backyard veggie patch.

A Wonthaggi crane operator and dad of two claims the stash of cannabis police found in his car was for “personal use”, a court has heard.

Gary Thomson, 62, faced the Korumburra Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis, while another charge was struck out.
The court heard police searched Thomson’s Wonthaggi home and backyard on May 24 this year.

In their search officers found approximately 900g of dried cannabis in his car, and found cannabis seedlings growing in his vegetable patch.

Thomson was taken to the Wonthaggi police station and told officers at the time the cannabis was for his “personal use”.

Gary Thomson, 62, faced the Korumburra Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to a cannabis charge.

Thomson, who was self-represented, told the court he didn’t “cultivate” the cannabis or “put them in the ground”.

He said he was on a pension and sent money to his children who live overseas.

Thomson told the court he tried to “get away” from cannabis but started smoking it for “pain relief” after he was involved in a motorbike crash and almost lost his leg.

Magistrate Andrew Halse told Thomson he had a “significant history” of drug use and there were other ways for him to deal with his pain.

He was convicted and fined $300.