Fathers in court for drugs offences

Two fathers caught with cannabis in different circumstances have been given sentences allowing them to continue caring for their children.

Logan Richard Ellison, 21, a father of one, and Garth Munro Thompson, 43, a solo father of two, were sentenced in the New Plymouth District Court on separate drug related charges.

In both cases, Judge Peter Rollo made mention of their responsibilities as fathers as he sentenced them to community-based sentences.

Ellison, 21, appeared on four charges including one of possessing cannabis for supply, two of selling or attempting to sell cannabis and one of driving without a licence.

A further charge of supplying morphine was withdrawn.

According to the summary of facts, Ellison sent out five batches of bulk text messages between February 18 and 20, offering to sell cannabis.

On March 16, police executed a search warrant on Ellison’s home while he was there with his partner and their young child, who is now 9-months-old.

Officers found a black backpack with 47 small zip lock bags containing cannabis with a street value of $1350.

Ellison also had $950 in his wallet, which police later found was from his father for the sale of a car, and 568 grams of cannabis in a sleep-out on the property.

During sentencing, Judge Peter Rollo emphasised the seriousness of Ellison’s offending and told him to consider what it would have been like for his partner and child if he had been sent to prison for the offending.

However, he also mentioned Ellison’s young age and lack of previous convictions, and said he would get a chance to make a change for the better.

He sentenced him to six months community detention and twelve months supervision. Ellison was also disqualified from driving for six months.

Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, Rollo sentenced 43-year-old Garth Munro Thompson, a solo-father, for possession of cannabis.

The class C drug was found when police were called to a domestic incident on May 25th.

When spoken to by police, Thompson admitted having a fire- arm and while police were searching his house, they found a small growing room with five potted cannabis plants.

Thompson told the officers he was growing the plants for his own use and used it as a treatment for his medical ailments including burns and a bad back.

‘‘That’s why he grew the small number of plants,’’ defence lawyer Julian Hannam told Rollo.

Police also found 1043 grams of dried cannabis and a .22 calibre rifle and ammunition, which Thompson didn’t have a licence for.

Hannam said Thompson had told him it was a 30-year-old gun that he had bought from a friend for $80 and used for hunting.

‘‘He also has a number of air guns which don’t require a licence so he is familiar with the housing of them,’’ Hannam said, but he acknowledged the rifle crossed the line.

Hannam said Thompson was also working on his panel beating business which had faced bankruptcy in the past but now had a better future.

‘‘He’s got that back up and running,’’ Hannam said.

Thompson also had the sole care of his two children, he said.

Rollo sentenced Thompson to three months of community detention, with a curfew between 8pm and 7am.

On the charge of possessing the firearm, Thompson was fined $500 and court costs of $130.

He also ordered the destruction of the firearm, the drugs and the drug paraphernalia.