MAN LEARNED TO GROW CANNABIS VIA YOUTUBE

PLANTS HAD ESTIMATED STREET VALUE OF €12,000

A man learnt how to cultivate cannabis plants on YouTube, a circuit court Judge was told last Wednesday.

Simas Zelenkaitis (42) admitted cultivation of cannabis at Aran Court, Newry Road, Dundalk on November 2, 2016.

When Gardai searched there they found 15 cannabis plants behind a partition in a garage. There was a lighting system in place and the plants were almost mature.

The search also recovered a bag of cannabis herb, a cultivation unit, thermostat, weighing scales and €400 cash as well as a GPS tracker.

Two people arrived at the premises, the accused was one of them and he said he lived there. He admitted ownership of the plants and said he smoked cannabis himself.

When interviewed by Gardai he said he had them growing for 3-4 months and had done it because he needed money.

He said his plans were to try and sell the cannabis and, according to Mr Kevin Segrave, prosecuting, he said ‘ he had learnt the process on YouTube.’

Gardai estimated the plants had an estimated street value of €12,000 and the seized cannabis was worth 2,046.

Defence counsel Mr Seamus Clarke said Zelenkaitis had, ‘co-operated full and took responsibility.’ He made multiple admissions while in Garda custody and said he smoked cannabis himself.

He is from a small city in Lithuania and has lived in Ireland for 12 years. He works part-time as a cleaner and he cultivated the plants at a different address to where his partner and child live.

Judge Martina Baxter acceded to a request for a Probation report on the accused and remanded him in custody until November 29.