A young Koonawarra man threatened his mother with violence if she did not tend to his more than 40 cannabis plants he forced her to grow in her house, a court has heard.
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Jaxon Wilson, 22, was granted bail in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday after police seized the drugs during a search warrant last week and charged him with cultivating prohibited plants, supplying prohibited drugs and intimidation.
Documents tendered to court said Wilson, who is unemployed due to COVID, was charged with possessing a prohibited drug after he was allegedly found with 252.75 grams of cannabis on September 7.
Police also seized his phone and a notebook which allegedly had reviews of different cannabis plants describing flowers, smells, growth and quality.
During a police interview, Wilson allegedly said he cut the drugs off a plant in someone else's backyard, and was later granted bail.
Police reviewed the phone, allegedly finding photos of cannabis plants and a video of three small grow room with insulation, lighting, fans and hoses.
Police also allegedly saw a text message conversation between Wilson and his mother where they exchanged details about the care of the plants including watering, trimming and turning on heaters and fans, as well as photos of the plants.
"Can you check the plants for me please," Wilson allegedly sent his mother on August 9.
"What do you want me to do with them," Wilson's mother allegedly sent him, to which he replied, "well the pumps have to be turned on . . . can you see if the tent off [sic] the floor needs any water."
Police went to the mother's Koonawarra address on September 8 to execute a search warrant.
Wilson lives with his father in a nearby street but regularly visits the house to allegedly tend to the plants, the documents said.
Wilson's mother allegedly told police there were cannabis plants in the first bedroom before claiming her son had been forcing her to keep and care for the plants at her home.
She alleged her son would intimidate, assault her or threaten her and her partner if she didn't do what he asked.
Police allege Wilson sent "very demanding and degrading" messages in outbursts to his mother on numerous times and made threats with it appearing Wilson was the "one calling the shots and even sells his cannabis" to her, the documents said.
Wilson allegedly threatened his mother and her partner's life, to burn down the house and to put her back in the hospital.
During the search warrant, police allegedly seized filters, bulbs, a grow tent and pots with a plant stem cut, which appeared to have been harvested, as well as dried cannabis weighing 42.63 grams.
Police allegedly found three more grow tents containing 41 plants of varying sizes. Police seized 47 plants in total before they were analysed, some of which correlated to reviews in the notebook, the documents said.
Police also allege they found messages on Wilson's phone discussing the sale of cannabis to customers between March and August, including discussing the sale of an ounce for $260.
Wilson handed himself into police on September 13.
In court on Tuesday defence lawyer Jordan Mechan said Wilson needed to be granted bail to treat his mental health problems and get on medication, noting he does have "outbursts but never carries through" with the threats.
Mr Mechan said if Wilson was denied release it would be the first time he went into custody and despite being on bail at the time and having a criminal record, it was not long.
Mr Mechan said his client admitted to having a drug problem but was not a daily user and wanted to get help through a rehabilitation program.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Ben Bragger opposed bail noting there was a unacceptable risk Wilson would continue to supply illegal drugs or further intimidate his mother.
Magistrate Susan McGowan agreed to grant Wilson bail noting his age, mental health conditions and imposed strict conditions including a curfew, complying with an AVO and daily reporting.
The case was adjourned to Port Kembla Local Court on October 6.
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