Shepparton man faces court over 23 marijuana plants growing in his yard

By Monique Preston

Apr 3, 2023

Guilty plea: A man has faced Shepparton County Court on charges of cultivating narcotic plants and trafficking cannabis. Photo by Getty Images

A man who had 23 marijuana plants growing in the yard at his house and was selling cannabis to his mates has been put on a community corrections order.

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Rodney Scott Lock, 48, of Shepparton, pleaded guilty in Shepparton County Court to charges of cultivating narcotic plants and trafficking cannabis.

The court heard police found 19 cannabis plants under bird netting in Lock’s backyard and another four growing in his driveway when they searched his Shepparton home on March 23 last year.

They also found 1.46kg of cannabis separated into 53 zip-lock bags in a beer carton in a spare room inside the house.

A further 107.6g of cannabis was found in a shopping bag on the fridge in the kitchen and 13.8g in the kitchen cupboard.

In summing up the case, Judge Michael Cahill said Lock told police he grew the plants as it “gave you something to do”.

He also said Lock said the cannabis in the beer carton was his supply that he had “bagged into roughly one ounce (lots)” and that he would “try to make a bag last a fortnight” but sometimes it would be gone in four days.

The court heard Lock had smoked cannabis most of his life to relieve stress and chronic fatigue, which he had had since at least 2012.

Lock also “helped mates out” by selling them some of the cannabis, Judge Cahill said.

The court also heard Lock had two court priors for cultivating cannabis.

Lock’s defence solicitor argued that the cultivation was relatively unsophisticated, that Lock was co-operative with police, and the proof of trafficking largely came from his admissions of selling to friends.

The defence also argued that since his arrest, Lock had taken steps to treat his cannabis addiction and was in a more settled place now with a partner and young family.

Judge Cahill said he accepted Lock had a long history of chronic fatigue and depression and had used cannabis because of this, and that he had grown more than he could smoke and was selling it to friends.

Lock was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order, with conditions that he attend both drug and mental health treatment and rehabilitation.

Judge Cahill did not order any community work because of Lock’s “health and family commitments”.

“Since your arrest you have demonstrated you have the capacity to kick your cannabis addiction,” Judge Cahill said.