OUT OF THE BOX: CROP-SITTING GRANDMOTHER JAILED:

Grandmother found looking after 136 dope plants

A GRANDMOTHER tried hiding in a box when a police raid uncovered 163kg of cannabis growing inside a Geelong factory.

Loan Le was looking after 136 marijuana plants at a building on Seaforth St, North Shore, when detectives burst in on November 19 last year.

The Geelong County Court heard the 68-year-old did everything she could to avoid detection from police, who found her hiding under a blanket inside a box while surrounded by an extensive hydroponic set up.

The St Albans pensioner was jailed for three years yesterday after pleading guilty to cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis and stealing electricity.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Moore told the court the investigation into the factory started after police received an anonymous tip-off about drugrelated activity inside the premises.

After being arrested, Le told officers she had agreed to live at the factory for three weeks as part of a deal she made with an unknown man she met at a restaurant.

The court heard the mother of six was struggling for money and that the deal would see her paid $5000 to oversee the cannabis crop.

Defence barrister Moya O’Brien said her client came from Vietnam in 2000 and was now an Australian citizen, meaning she could not be deported.

Ms O’Brien said Le had been living with her two adult daughters in suburban Melbourne before taking on the role as a crop-sitter.

“She presents as a relatively simple lady,” she said.

She said Le was in “excellent” health but had found her time in custody an isolating experience due to her limited English.

Judge Gerard Mullaly said while it was a “grave” step to jail a 68-year-old for the first time, prison was the only option for the crime.

Judge Mullaly said Le had played an important role in the illegal operation and that her sentence should serve as a deterrent to others thinking of taking part in similar schemes.

“It should never be forgotten that cannabis that is grown by the cultivators ultimately has serious effects on many users,” he said.

“Our community bears a great cost while entrepreneurial cannabis cultivators profit significantly.”

Le, who has been in custody since November, will be eligible for parole after serving 22 months.