Sentencing delayed for poisonous workplace cake that sent several to hospital

Graham Jones at the North Shore District Court today. Photo / Doug Sherring

The man who baked a drug-laced cake and took it to a workplace where its consumption sent several people to hospital has had his sentencing delayed.

Graham Jones, 58, brought a cannabis cake to a workplace in Glenfield on December 13 last year.

At the time police said 10 people had eaten the cake - eight of whom were hospitalised - but that all had recovered.

Today in the North Shore District Court, Judge Ajit Swaran Singh said a matter of this magnitude should not be in a list court.

"The nature of the charge is quite serious, a special sentencing fixture needs to be put in place."

The lead charge needed to be changed to poisoning with intent to cause inconvenience with a noxious substance instead of cultivating cannabis, the judge said.

"Given that there are nine victims, that should be the lead charge."

The adjournment of sentencing would allow both the prosecution and the defence to make submissions accordingly.

The unusual nature of the case also begged the question of whether or not there were mental health issues that needed to be addressed, Judge Singh said.

It was up to the defence if Jones wanted to pursue restorative justice, he said.

"I understand at least six of them were not willing to participate", he said.

But three of the victims had not said so directly as of yet.

Jones remains on bail until the new sentencing date of July 24.

He had been charged with nine counts of poisoning, cultivating cannabis, possession of utensils and unlawful possession of firearms after police searched his house.

He was scheduled to be sentenced today after he pleaded guilty to one representative charge for the poisoning and guilty to the other charges in the North Shore District Court in February.