A magistrate has heard one Coleambally man's explanation for getting caught with cannabis leaf, but said there was just "no excuse" for using the drug.
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Allan Robert Morton Crouch, 57, was before Griffith Local Court charged with possession of 275.4 grams of cannabis leaf, as well as possession of eight Viagra tablets without a script.
"I just use it in butter for my cooking," Crouch claimed about the cannabis, speaking without legal representation.
"It's just a bit of dry leaf to help my crook back."
But magistrate Joy Boulos pulled him up, saying it was before court "for a reason".
"It's not just a 'bit of dry leaf'," she admonished.
It's not just a 'bit of dry leaf'. It's not insignificant and that's why you are before court today.
- Magistrate Joy Boulos
"It's not insignificant, and that's why you are before court today."
Magistrate Bolous looked at the court facts and asked Crouch if he wanted to get legal advice however he was confident he didn't, but rather "just wanted to get it over with".
Crouch's Coleambally property was searched by police in February when they found the two illegal substances.
They were granted a warrant to search his property for "the purpose of locating prohibited plants, large unexplained amounts of currency, drug equipment and paraphernalia, mobile phones, ledgers, scales, resealable bags, and any other items reasonably suspected as relating to the possession or supply of prohibited drugs and cultivation of prohibited drugs."
Officers found a plastic shopping bag containing cannabis, eight grey 'Citrate' tablets - a brand of Viagra, which is a Prescribed Restricted Substance.
Their report detailed finding a modified cool room to allow ventilation, a significant amount of pots, fertilizer, light bulbs and "other materials consistent with the cultivation of cannabis."
Crouch arrived at his property as police were finalising their search. Crouch was "open" with police and admitted he had gotten the cannabis from his "mate" a while ago, which he used regularly.
He also made full admissions for the Viagra tablets, saying he did not have a script for them.
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In court, he told the magistrate he had a script in the past but it had run out.
Police had also found a sling shot, which Crouch said he had no knowledge of, and believed it to be one of his son's for years ago. Police took this as a plausible explanation.
Crouch was convicted of both charges and given a $300 fine for the cannabis possession.
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