NZ Idol faces the music on 17 charges
A NEW Zealand Idol winner battling drug addiction was urged to clean up his act during a lengthy pep talk by a Gold Coast magistrate.
Matthew John Saunoa, 34, relapsed into drug addiction last year in the wake of a dispute with his family and was sent to prison for the first time.
The winner of the 2006 television show faced Southport Magistrates Court yesterday, backed by a small group of supporters, after he spent a little over five months locked up.
The appearance was a far cry from Saunoa’s success in the third season of the popular reality TV show, which helped push his song Hold Out to the top of NZ’s singles charts.
Saunoa pleaded guilty to 17 charges, including possessing restricted Viagra, possessing a stolen credit card, drug driving, providing fake names, breaches of bail and a spate of petrol drive-offs to the tune of $245.
He also faces an aggravated drug possession charge, due to go to a higher court.
Defence lawyer Bianca Van Heerden said it was clear her client suffered from “a very severe drug addiction”.
Ms Van Heerden described Saunoa’s time behind bars as a “huge wake-up call”.
“Music has been a good focus for him in custody to keep him sane,” she said.
She said Saunoa would “return to music” on his release.
Saunoa had attended rehabilitation courses in prison and worked while serving time.
Magistrate John Costanzo told Saunoa “you have more to do” and repeatedly urged him to “concentrate on the here and now”.
He took into account an early plea and Saunoa’s rehabilitation. Saunoa was placed on probation for two years, fined $600, disqualified from driving for one month and must pay $245 restitutions.
He was granted bail on the outstanding drug charge.