Grower’s burglary ploy backfires

A man who filed a fake burglary report as a ploy to get police help to find his missing cannabis was left red-faced when he found out officers were the ones who seized the illegal drug in the first place.

Over the summer months, Wriley John Fryer decided to grow cannabis in the bush near his home in Ra¯ hotu, South Taranaki, the New Plymouth District Court was told.

He harvested some of the class C drug and stored in it jars.

Some was also stashed in a container, which sat on a table near the back door of his house.

This is what attracted the attention of police officers when they visited Fryer’s house, on an unrelated matter, on April 18.

Detective Sergeant Dave MacKenzie said no-one was at home when police arrived.

While at the property, an officer noticed the small container of cannabis, which prompted a further search of the address.

This turned up a 30cm tall cannabis plant and seven jars filled with ‘‘head’’ material from the class C drug, MacKenzie said.

In total, 136 grams was seized by police.

About 6.45pm that evening, Fryer called police and told them his house has been burgled. When he filed the report, he claimed his television and Playstation had been stolen.

MacKenzie said when police spoke to Fryer on May 3, he admitted to growing the cannabis.

The 21-year-old said when he came home to find it missing he created a fake burglary complaint in the hope information police gleaned from that investigation would help him track down his dope crop.

However, Fryer soon realised his mistake when he found a police card wedged in his door, which advised him the cannabis had been seized by officers, MacKenzie said.

On Thursday, Fryer pleaded guilty to making a false statement and cultivating cannabis.

Lawyer Nathan Bourke said the defendant had ‘‘tried his hand at botany over the summer’’ and grew the cannabis.

Bourke said his client had no previous drug-related offending.

The New Plymouth District Court heard that Fryer was recently sentenced to 130 hours of community for unpaid fines.

Judge Chris Sygrove added a further 60 hours for the cultivation charge.

Fryer was also convicted and discharged for making the false statement.