The former operations manager of a Northern Territory freight company has been jailed for 28 days after using the company to import at least two pounds of cannabis into the NT.

The NT Supreme Court heard Shayne Holmes, 48, lost his job after he arranged for the cannabis to be transported from Adelaide to Darwin using the freight company last year.  

Holmes had a rostered day off on September 7, 2019 and attended the company’s yard at East Arm at night where he uncovered a box containing the cannabis and gave it to another man.

Chief Justice Michael Grant said Holmes’ employer became aware of his visit to the yard and become suspicious.

“It appears that your employer then somehow became aware of your attendance at the yard that night and began to ask questions,” he said.  

“You admitted arranging for the transport of the carton but you denied you knew what was inside it.

“You said that you received a carton of Jack Daniels as payment for arranging the shipment.”

Police then executed a search warrant on Holmes’ house on November 21 last year and seized 330 grams of THC contained in cookies and cookie dough, two mature cannabis plants and a smoking implement.

The court heard Holmes said he had arranged for the cannabis to be transported from Adelaide to be shared between himself and two friends.

“You say that you did this because cannabis is of poor quality and expensive in Darwin,” Chief Justice Grant said.  

“You say that the cost of the cannabis was $5,300.”

Chief Justice Grant said Holmes was long-term cannabis smoker but his prospects of rehabilitation were good.

He sentenced Holmes to two and a half years in jail, suspended after 28 days.

A previous version of this article described Holmes as a former operations manager of a particular freight company and him having had the drugs delivered to the yard of that company. While he did hold that position with the company, the NT Independent now understands the drugs were not delivered to the yards of that company and Holmes was no longer employed with the company at the time of the offence. The NT Independent apologises for the mistake.

• Scott Bowman hides from questions after Senate inquiry performance, as new undeclared conflict raised
• Don’t go to emergency department, government warns
• Man charged over ‘edged weapon’ attack on woman in her home
• Latest political financial disclosures revealed – SEE FULL LIST
• NT Health won’t say what cases had to be investigated that led to external St John Ambulance probe