Drug offender tells Parole Board of life before prison
A DRUG dealer appearing before the New Zealand Parole Board has detailed his wasted weekends spent high and drunk.
Adam James Mutch this month appeared before the parole board for the first time in relation to his two years and ten months’ jail sentence for drug offending.
The 22yearold was jailed last July for importing more than $80,000 worth of classC drug ethylone and offering to supply classB drug ecstasy.
He appeared before the parole board on May 11.
The board declined parole, finding Mutch was an undue risk. The board’s decision revealed he had a 63% chance of reoffending.
Mutch’s criminal history dates back to 2012, when the then17 yearold and an associate attacked a 16yearold schoolboy because they objected to his presence at a Mosgiel party.
He has faced criminal charges regularly since then, including another charge relating to another unprovoked assault.
During his sentencing for his most recent offending, Judge Kevin Phillips described Mutch as a ‘‘oneman band’’ drug operation.
He packaged the ethylone into gel capsules and sold it on as ecstasy.
He was undone after several packages of the drug were intercepted and police became involved.
Mutch was scheduled to complete a rehabilitation programme at one of the Department of Corrections’ drug treatment units (DTU), the parole board’s decision said.
‘‘Mr Mutch tells the board today that he has realised that the programme just needed to be done and he is prepared to travel . . . to complete the [programme] that is on offer,’’ the board said.
‘‘Mr Mutch also talked about his offending and behaviour prior to coming into prison.
‘‘He described spending weekends drinking and taking drugs. He is hoping to get some understanding of his behaviour from the DTU.
‘‘Mr Mutch has good family support. He advises that they are 100% behind him.’’
Mutch was considered a ‘‘polite and compliant prisoner’’.
He is next due to appear before the board in March next year.
His statutory release date is in April 2019.