A DRIVER was caught with more than 60 grams of the drug GHB and several stolen number plates during a routine traffic stop, a court has heard.
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Cohuna man Kane Leigh Anset, 49, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court last week where he pleaded guilty to drugs charges.
The court heard on March 23 this year, police intercepted Anset while he was driving along the Calder Freeway in Gisborne.
Read more court: Bendigo man's sentence reduced in the Victorian Court of Appeal
The number plates on his Nissan were registered to a different vehicle.
When police were talking to Anset, they noticed he was acting nervous and had a ziplock bag on his passenger seat.
The officers searched the car and found a vial and a container filled with the drug GHB, along with two plungers.
Inside the boot of the car, police also found more number plates that were listed as outstanding stolen items.
In total, officers found 67.81 grams of the drug GHB.
During his record of interview, Anset made a "no comment" response in relation to the drug allegations and denied knowing anything about the stolen number plates.
The court heard Anset was also contesting charges from a separate incident on July 12.
Police alleged he was found with $8760 in cash, a knife, and drugs at the Southern Cross Train Station in Melbourne.
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Defence lawyer Nicholas Rolfe told the court Anset had spent 44 days in pre-sentence detention, including 28 days in COVID-19 lockdown.
Mr Rolfe said Anset became addicted to prescription painkillers after he injured his back while working at an Echuca cheese factory.
The defence lawyer said Anset had not worked since 2014 and his offending escalated in 2015 after he began using GHB to self-medicate.
Mr Rolfe submitted a combination sentence of jail and a community corrections order would be appropriate
Magistrate Megan Aumair said it was clear Anset had some "significant obstacles" to work through as a result of his drug habit.
But Ms Aumair said she would have him assessed for the Court Integrated Services Program.
"If he can comply with CISP, that's a start," the magistrate said.
The case was adjourned to next month so Anset could be assessed for the program. The charges he was contesting were also adjourned to the same date.
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