A man who was caught growing cannabis plants at his mother’s address in Tongala has been fined $800.
Turgut Twyman-Erdogdu, 22, of Tongala, pleaded guilty in Echuca Magistrates’ Court to cultivating a narcotic plant.
Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Michael Petrov told the court police found “nine cannabis plants of various sizes” growing in his mother’s backyard.
When interviewed by police, Twyman-Erdogdu said he had been growing the plants for “about six weeks” for the purpose of “personal use”.
Twyman-Erdogdu’s solicitor Greg Johnston said since his client had been caught with the plants, he had “stopped smoking cannabis recreationally and rarely drinks at all”.
Mr Johnston said his client was employed and had a “very limited” criminal history.
When fining Twyman-Erdogdu, magistrate Trieu Huynh said he had taken into account his “willingness to co-operate, the unsophisticated nature of the set-up and his age”.
Mr Huynh fined Twyman-Erdogdu $800 without conviction.