'Skilful' 82yo cannabis grower avoids jailPosted by MMP News AuthorOn December 15, 2020
John Banks Price, 82, was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court for cannabis cultivation and possession of the drug for supply charges. Photo / George Novak
A Tauranga retiree busted with a large cannabis crop at his home worth tens of thousands of dollars has narrowly avoided being sent to prison.
A frail-looking John Banks Price, 82, appeared in the Tauranga District Court yesterday for sentencing after earlier pleading guilty to one charge each of cultivating cannabis and possession of cannabis for supply.
Before doing so, Judge Philip Connell withdrew a charge of selling cannabis after the police prosecutor agreed there was no evidence of any actual sales being made.
Judge Connell described Price as a “sophisticated and clearly skilful” grower of a large cannabis growing operation which was found at his Ohauiti Rd home on June 20.
Price was the mastermind behind the purpose-built, large-scale and well-equipped operation.
According to the 11-page police summary of facts, he told police he had been growing and stockpiling cannabis head material with the intention of selling it to pay for a wheelchair and a $100,000 back operation.
During a search of his property, police found 364 well-nurtured cannabis plants and…