Ringwood Magistrates Court: Unlucky carpenter’s personal pharmacy uncovered during brother’s warrant
A Lysterfield carpenter’s steroid stash has been uncovered by police during the execution of a search warrant aimed at his brother.
South East
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A crook can thank his brother for police finding his “personal” drug stash of more than 22 different substances he claimed were for medical use.
Adam Naranpanawa pleaded guilty to possession charges in the Ringwood Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Naranpanawa’s bedroom was searched by police on February 12 last year, as part of a search warrant executed on his brother at their Lysterfield home.
Naranpanawa, who is a carpenter, was not present for the search but his brother was arrested over an unrelated affray.
Investigators discovered the drug stash of more than 190 pills and 70 vials of liquid substances in the bedroom.
Sleeping tablets, human growth hormones, testosterone, steriods and nerve numbing tablets were among the 22 substances found in the stash.
Naranpanawa’s lawyer Mark Sehler told to court the drugs were for “personal use”.
He said Naranpanawa used the illegal substances to treat his sciatica pain and the bulging disc in his lower back.
“My client should be seeking out his doctor for pain management rather than seeking out Dr Google.” Mr Sehler said.
“He is deeply remorseful.”
Mr Sehler said his client also did not live full time at the home where the drugs were found.
The court also heard the drugs were found after the items outlined in the search warrant directed at his brother were found.
Magistrate Jason Ong said he was “concerned” about the large number of substances found in Naranpanawa’s bedroom.
He fined Naranpanawa $1200 without conviction and ordered all of the substances to be forfeited and destroyed.
