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A "crop-sitter" who had been smoking cannabis since he was 11 has been jailed for more than two years after he was caught with almost 100 kilograms of cannabis plants in a Werribee house.
Father of two Billel Kassar, 24, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Friday to cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis, one count of theft of electricity, and one count of dealing with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
Judge Chris O'Neill said a sophisticated hyroponic growing system had been installed in the Werribee house when Kassar was arrested in October 2012.
"An electrical bypass system was in place and it was estimated that over a period of approximately three months during which the crop was grown, electricity to a total value of $8,500 was stolen," the judge said.
Police also found $29,500 in cash hidden in the kitchen.
Judge O'Neill said a psychological report revealed Kassar, the married father of a five-year-old daughter and a 12-month-old son, began using cannabis when he was 11 before experimenting with other drugs, including ecstasy and methylamphetamines.
The 12 days he spent in the Melbourne custody centre after his arrest was so traumatic he twice attempted suicide.
"According to the submissions of your counsel, and despite the admissions in the record of interview, you did not own and establish the cannabis crop, but were rather a “crop-sitter” for other persons," Judge O'Neill told Kassar.
"Your counsel referred to part of the record of interview where you indicated that you had no money to pay bills both in respect of your family and your extended family and were struggling to make ends meet."
The judge said Kassar had turned his life around since his arrest and started a courier company in November last year while on bail.
"I accept that any period of incarceration would be difficult for your wife and young family, although that difficulty does not attain the level of hardship necessary to warrant a grant of special mercy," he said.
"Because of your disjointed early life, your education has been modest and this has led to restrictions in your ability to obtain and maintain employment, and the financial security that brings.
"What must be said about the narcotic plants discovered is that the quantity was substantial. The combined weight of the plants was almost 100 kilograms. On any view, this is a large crop, even accepting the number of plants involved was only 39."
Kassar was jailed for 28 months with a non-parole period of 14 months.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/c...ribee-house-20140124-31crv.html#ixzz2rGyvhS00
Father of two Billel Kassar, 24, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Friday to cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis, one count of theft of electricity, and one count of dealing with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
Judge Chris O'Neill said a sophisticated hyroponic growing system had been installed in the Werribee house when Kassar was arrested in October 2012.
"An electrical bypass system was in place and it was estimated that over a period of approximately three months during which the crop was grown, electricity to a total value of $8,500 was stolen," the judge said.
Police also found $29,500 in cash hidden in the kitchen.
Judge O'Neill said a psychological report revealed Kassar, the married father of a five-year-old daughter and a 12-month-old son, began using cannabis when he was 11 before experimenting with other drugs, including ecstasy and methylamphetamines.
The 12 days he spent in the Melbourne custody centre after his arrest was so traumatic he twice attempted suicide.
"According to the submissions of your counsel, and despite the admissions in the record of interview, you did not own and establish the cannabis crop, but were rather a “crop-sitter” for other persons," Judge O'Neill told Kassar.
"Your counsel referred to part of the record of interview where you indicated that you had no money to pay bills both in respect of your family and your extended family and were struggling to make ends meet."
The judge said Kassar had turned his life around since his arrest and started a courier company in November last year while on bail.
"I accept that any period of incarceration would be difficult for your wife and young family, although that difficulty does not attain the level of hardship necessary to warrant a grant of special mercy," he said.
"Because of your disjointed early life, your education has been modest and this has led to restrictions in your ability to obtain and maintain employment, and the financial security that brings.
"What must be said about the narcotic plants discovered is that the quantity was substantial. The combined weight of the plants was almost 100 kilograms. On any view, this is a large crop, even accepting the number of plants involved was only 39."
Kassar was jailed for 28 months with a non-parole period of 14 months.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/c...ribee-house-20140124-31crv.html#ixzz2rGyvhS00
