Bradley Dean Reid used mobile app to trace protected family member and claimed phone calls were ‘butt-dials’

A Busselton man has avoided prison after downloading an mobile phone tracking app to keep tabs on a family member and growing “medicinal” marjuana in his home.

Bradley Dean Reid appeared in Busselton Magistrates Court on Tuesday, August 30 after admitting to a string of drug and and restraining order charges.

Between March 29 and April 11, Reid was found to have contacted a person protected by a family violence restraining order via phone call, alleging they were “butt dials”, and sending follow-up messages assuring he was not actively trying to contact her and that it was an “accident”.

He was further found to have downloaded the mobile app Cell Track to follow the victim’s location claiming he was concerned for her wellbeing.

When police later attended the man’s Broadwater home to seize his phone, they also found 12 small and 9 large cannabis plants growing inside along with a hydroponic set-up, tents, lights, fans, irrigation and 168.61g of cannabis oil in his fridge.

An additional bag containing 250g of loose cannabis was also found in the man’s shed.

It was submitted to the court Reid suffers from kidney dysfunction and renal failure and is currently waiting for a kidney donor and was using the drugs to assist with his pain.

Lawyers told the court Reid, who attends dialysis three times a week, was unable to afford medicinal marijuana.

Magistrate Joanne Andretich placed the man on a 12-month community-based order.

She said while Reid is not a risk to the community, the sentencing should reflect the “condemnation of offending”.

“I understand your circumstance and have sympathy in that regard but if someone doesn’t want contact they don’t want contact,” she said.

“Though you may have good intentions the reality is they just may not want that and you have to respect that.”

Reid had previously pleaded guilty to breaching bail and a family violence restraining order, as well as one count of cultivating a prohibited plant, manufacturing a prohibited drug, possessing cannabis and possessing drug paraphernalia.