Jamie Heard busted growing weed in mum’s Bendigo backyard

An amateur green-thumb gardener was caught growing his illegal crops out in the open in his mother’s garden. His response to the cops as to why he was growing the weed might surprise you.

An amateur green-thumb gardener was caught growing his illegal crops out in the open in his mother’s garden.

Bendigo Magistrates Court heard 32-year-old Jamie Heard was living with his mother and stepfather when police raided their Bendigo-region home earlier this month.

The officers found 12 large cannabis plants, each 1.2m in height, growing in the backyard.

A basic sprinkler system and fertiliser was also found.

Neither Heard or his stepfather were home when police used a warrant to search the home, but when his mother told him, Heard handed himself in.

When asked by police why he was growing cannabis, Heard said: “It was something to do”.

His rudimentary set-up may have saved Heard from a more serious penalty.

“It’s not a sophisticated system,” his lawyer Robert Morgan said.

“He made no attempt to conceal it in a shed.

“It’s a harebrained scheme and he accepts the stupidity.” Mr Morgan said.

Mr Morgan said Heard had co-operated at every stage of the investigation and had no prior convictions for cultivation, but added his client had previously served time in jail for the possession of methamphetamines.

He said Heard was using the cannabis to self medicate for his anxiety and grief issues after his brother was killed in a motorbike crash.

Mr Morgan said Heard had not used ice since being released from prison last year and was eager to avoid returning there.

“It’s the last place I want to be,” Heard told his lawyer.

“I’ve wasted enough of my life there. I need to grow up.”

While his client was unemployed, Mr Morgan said Heard could pay a fine since he was on a New Start allowance.

Jamie Heard pled guilty to eight charges including drug cultivation and possession and a drug driving offence.

He was fined $1000, with a conviction recorded.