Rodney Eric Barker pleads guilty to trafficking in a controlled substance

A 68-year-old man has faced the Supreme Court after police received a tip off about a makeshift cannabis shed hidden in Crown bushland near Launceston. But the facts of the case are being argued.

A PERTH man on Wednesday pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Launceston to trafficking large quantities of cannabis — but confusion arose when his lawyer denied he owned, grew, bought or placed the controlled drug where police found it.

Rodney Eric Barker, 68, pleaded guilty to trafficking in a controlled substance before Justice Robert Pearce.

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The court heard Tasmania Police was tipped off about a makeshift “cannabis shed” in Crown bushland about 120km from Launceston, in September 2017.

Officers visited on September 14 and found the shed and two large bags on the ground.

One bag contained empty drink containers and slug bait and the other contained 2.19kg of cannabis head.

As police searched the property, Mr Barker walked out of bushes about 40m away and said he was searching for his dog before a small dog ran out.

Police searched Mr Barker, who presented two snap lock bags from his pocket containing 1.2g and 1g of cannabis.

They found an Esky hidden nearby containing more loose cannabis.

At Mr Barker’s home, police found 1.2g of cannabis in a cigarette packet on his kitchen bench, and more than 700g of cannabis in a plastic tub in an outbuilding.

Police found a total of 7.155kg of cannabis in the bushland, at Mr Barker’s home and in his possession.

Police found cannabis head and leaf at the man’s home and in Crown bushland.

He told police the cannabis found at his home belonged to him and he used it for relaxation.

He was charged with trafficking by guarding, concealing or possessing the cannabis with the intention to sell it.

Defence lawyer Charmaine Gibson said her client had pleaded guilty to trafficking on the basis that he had guarded or concealed the cannabis, and was aware a friend intended to sell it.

She said Mr Barker’s friend had found the Esky and had shown him where it was.

“Someone had stored it there and obviously hadn’t gone back to collect it,” she said.

Ms Gibson said Mr Barker was at the site when police arrived by coincidence and had gone to take some of the cannabis to make oil for medicinal relief.

“It was someone else’s. He does not know who, but was there helping himself to some.”

Ms Gibson said police had no evidence Mr Barker was intending to sell the cannabis other than the quantity that was found.

Prosecutor Emily Judd said it was the Crown’s “very firm position” that the cannabis belonged to the accused.

Justice Pearce adjourned the matter for the disputed facts to be resolved and sentence on June 18.