DIY drug grower hands over harvest to gardaí

A DO-IT-YOURSELF cannabis-growing package from the internet proved so overwhelmingly successful for a grower in Cork that he panicked and brought his entire harvest to his local Garda station and confessed all.

“We would welcome visitors like that every day,” said Inspector Michael McGuire yesterday.

The first gardaí knew about Jaroslaw Stakiewicz’s activities was when he arrived at Watercourse Road Garda Station.

“He approached Garda James Butler and he was carrying a large bag. He showed Garda Butler the contents containing €1,693 worth of cannabis weed,” Inspector McGuire said at Cork District Court.

Stakiewicz pleaded guilty to two counts related to the illegal drug. The 30-year-old had grown the cannabis grass at his home on 31 Eason’s Hill, off Roman Street, Cork.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke described Stakiewicz’s arrival in the station on October 22, 2008, as a bizarre situation of unparalleled cooperation with the gardaí. Mr Burke said the defendant did not want to get involved with people who dealt drugs so he decided to grow his own with the help of an internet DIY course.

Another factor was he simply could not afford to buy cannabis for himself.

“But he was shocked and amazed at how good the harvest was,” Mr Burke said.

The defendant, who was on medication for depression and anxiety, brought the entire harvest to the gardaí and confessed all. He also told them he had purchased a computer that was probably stolen property and he invited the gardaí up to his home to seize the stolen property.

He pleaded guilty to having the drugs in his own possession, having them for the purpose of sale or supply. However, Judge Con O’Leary said he was going to strike out the supply charge.

For having the drugs for his own use the judge fined him €250. He imposed a one-month suspended sentence for handling the stolen computer.

The internet site which Stakiewicz used so successfully was not identified in court.