Brayden Thomas jailed after renting Truganina factory to grow huge cannabis crop

A 70-year-old who rented a Truganina factory and set up a sophisticated cannabis-growing operation there, has told a court he needed cash to clear a mountain of credit card debt.

A man has been jailed after he was caught growing cannabis at a Truganina factory.

A grandpa caught growing pot in a Truganina factory says he needed the money to pay off credit card debts.

Former Wangaratta publican Brayden Thomas, 70, had been running the “sophisticated” set up for more than six months, a court has heard.

But his illicit business was exposed when a neighbour reported a break-in at the Archer Rd factory to police.

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Nearly 40 cannabis plants were found during a search of the property, as well as three boxes and a doona all stuffed with pot.

Thomas, former owner of the Railway Hotel in Wangaratta, told police he had been struggling to get by on his $400-a-week pension, and decided to rent a factory to grow pot to make extra cash.

He admitted to making $10,000 from the crop in just one of the factory’s makeshift rooms.

The County Court heard Thomas had no criminal history, but a marriage breakdown and hefty settlement payment had left him cash-strapped.

He had been living with his daughter and grandson during the time of the offending, and had battled bad health, including heart problems, diabetes and a kidney tumour.

Thomas’ defence lawyer said his client should be placed on a community corrections order due to his poor health, good character and early guilty plea.

But Judge John Carmody said jail time was the only appropriate sentence.

“All of these medical conditions were present and affected you at the time of your offending in this case. Nevertheless, you were able to single-handedly perform all the work necessary to construct and set up the equipment,” he said.

“The operation was purely for personal gain from known illegal activity,” he said.

Thomas was sentenced to three years’ jail, with a non-parole period of 18 months.