Central Queensland electrician Brendan Ross Andrews pleads guilty to drugs charges including production

Police saw cannabis growing at the Central Queensland electrician’s residence while they were chasing a suspected juvenile car thief through several yards in the area. Here’s what the officers found after they executed a search warrant.

A close up shot of cannabis plants. Generic image.

A Central Queensland electrician with no criminal history has faced court on drugs charges.

Brendan Ross Andrews, 43, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on April 7 to producing and possessing cannabis, as well as possessing fertiliser used in a drug crime.

The court heard Andrews produced cannabis at his Yeppoon residence between January 1 this year and late March.

Police Prosecutor Senior Constable Pete Rumford said that on March 17, police were pursuing a male juvenile through several yards, in relation to unlawful use of a motor vehicle, when they saw cannabis growing at Andrews’ residence.

Snr Const Rumford said police then executed a search warrant at Andrews’ residence on March 26, and Andrews was co-operative with officers, telling them he had a cannabis plant growing in his backyard.

“That plant was 2m in height,” Snr Const Rumford said.

Snr Const Rumford said a total of 70g of cannabis was seized as well as fertiliser.

Solicitor Joanne Madden said since Andrews had been charged with these offences, he had not been using cannabis and had moved to cigarettes.

Ms Madden said Andrews was a self-employed electrician and she asked Magistrate Jason Schubert not to record a conviction.

Before handing down penalty, Mr Schubert noted Andrews had “no history whatsoever.”

He fined Andrews $1500 and did not record a conviction.

Originally published as Central Queensland electrician Brendan Ross Andrews pleads guilty to drugs charges including production