Dominic Tincknell, 21, of Frost Street, was staying in Metcalfe Street, Parkes, on January 8, when police came knocking with a search warrant at 10.40am.

When asked if there was anything illegal at the premises he said there was cannabis in a drawer in the main bedroom.

In a search of the drawer, police found three re-usable plastic sandwich bags containing cannabis leaf and Tincknell said it was his.

His solicitor Peter Ringbauer said Tincknell now works full-time and has stopped using drugs.

“My client was previously using illicit drugs, which is why he had the amount of cannabis that he had,” Mr Ringbauer said.

In response to a question by Mr Day about why police went to the Parkes address with a search warrant, Mr Ringbauer said a person in hospital had said his client had sold them ecstasy but it wasn’t the case.

“He’s removed himself from that location, he’s a young man, he’s 21 years of age, he thought he had much better prospects to move away [to Orange],” he said.

“He was on the [Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment] program, the MERIT program to date showed he was no longer using illicit drugs.” 

Mr Day said although it was a large amount, there was no suggestion it was for anything other than personal use.

He gave Tincknell a 12-month conditional release order with conviction for possession of a prohibited drug with conditions including abstaining from drugs.