Mum stows pot so son will visit
PARENTS deal with the heartbreak of an empty nest in different ways and one woman used a marijuana plant to lure her son back to her.
The woman - who cannot be name for legal reasons - allowed her teenage son to grow the illegal drug at her property because the only time he would come visit her was to tend to the 2.5 metre plant.
Appearing in Warwick Magistrates Court this week, the woman pleaded guilty to permitting her property to be used for illegal activity.
Officers discovered the plant, a water pipe and marijuana seeds at the property on March 5 while executing a search warrant.
Defence solicitor Phillip Crook told the court his client allowed the criminal activity to take place at her home, as she was driven by emotion.
Mr Crook said the 57-year-old mother rarely saw her son due to his heavy work schedule.
The woman noticed the plant growing when it grew to a "substantial size" in an area of the property she rarely used.
Although she confronted her son about the plant, she did not make him remove it because the only time she would see him was when he went to care for the plant.
The woman was on parole for a serious drug charge at the time of the offence.
An officer from probation and parole attended court proceedings and said the woman would be issued with a formal warning for committing an offence while on parole.
The 57-year-old was this week fined $500 for the offence.
The teenage boy was dealt with in Warwick Children's Court this week, in relation to his role in the incident.
