Meth dealer’s second chance at rehab

A man charged with meth dealing after a police raid in Blenheim will once again attend rehab in the hope of getting his sentence reduced.

Gregory John Crouch, 38, was arrested for offering to supply meth, offering to supply cannabis, possession of meth and possession of cannabis during a police raid on six Blenheim properties in May.

He was one of six men aged between 19 and 38 to be arrested during the raids, and meth, cannabis, several cellphones and $6000 in cash were seized by police.

Crouch has pleaded guilty to the charges. He was given a sentencing indication of two years and two months’ imprisonment in August, but was told he could get home detention if he completed drug rehabilitation before sentencing.

Crouch was supposed to be sentenced at the Blenheim District Court on Thursday, but had not completed rehab.

His lawyer Rob Harrison said his client quit St Mark’s Addiction Residential Treatment Centre, in Blenheim, after two days because he was not allowed to smoke cigarettes on the premises.

However, there was a threemonth course available at St Mark’s which Crouch could complete while living at home, Harrison said.

Judge Denys Barry remanded Crouch on bail to February 7, so he could complete the course before sentencing.

He amended his bail conditions to 9pm to 7am so Crouch, a welder, could work late over the summer.

Labourer Tyson Wairau Robson Thwaites, 23, has yet to plead to offering to supply methamphetamine, offering to supply cannabis and failing to help police in their search. He was also remanded on bail to February 7.

Curtis Lance Aberhart, a 21-year-old concrete worker of Riverlands, was also arrested during the raids and had since admitted offering meth, selling cannabis, possession of meth and failing to help police in a search.