Juc dope plant ‘just grew by itself’

By Michelle Herbison
GEELONG Magistrate’s Court has fined a Jan Juc man $500 for allowing a cannabis plant to grow alongside his tomatoes.
Jason Cichocki, 41, of Great Ocean Rd, admitted to owning the plant but said it had grown in his garden by itself.
The court heard that police noticed the plant while waiting outside Cichocki’s home on another matter.
Mr Cichocki told police the seed “must have blown in” but he left it in place because he wanted to “see how it would grow”, the court heard.
Magistrate Barrett fined Cichocki $500 and gave him a 12-month good behaviour bond.