Man jailed over bumper cannabis crop in Truganina
A man caught growing a bumper marijuana crop throughout his Truganina home has told a court he needed the cannabis to help him relax.
Wyndham Leader
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A Truganina man who “needed help to relax” has been busted growing ganja at his home.
Xhevdet Burrniku last month pleaded guilty to drugs and theft charges, after police found 66 plants being grown hydroponically, with stolen electricity used to power the lighting and heating through a bypass system.
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Nearly 52kg of cannabis was found in five rooms of the house during a police raid in on May 15, 2017.
The court heard Burrniku, 35, worked as a full-time carer for his wife who had been diagnosed with encephalitis — a serious brain infection — in 2013, and their two young children.
An assessment by psychologist Ian Joblin found Birrniku had started using cannabis during his wife’s illness to help him relieve the stress of caring for the family and being the sole breadwinner.
Birrniku also had “residual anxiety” from his experiences in his home of Kosovo.
Since he was arrested nearly two years ago, Birrniku has sought treatment and is now drug-free, the court heard.
Judge Wendy Wilmoth sentenced Birrniku to seven months’ jail to be followed by a 12-month community corrections order on his release.
“Clearly your rehabilitation so far has been successful and the indications for the future are positive,” she said.
“You have had counselling and you are now drug free, recognising that your psychological difficulties must be addressed appropriately rather than through drug use.”
He must continue drug and mental health treatment as part of the community corrections order.
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