Man needs a new pastime - lawyer

A Taranaki man convicted of possessing a variety of drugs will have to find another recreational activity, his lawyer says.

Police who searched Raymond Thomas Neale’s Riverlea home at 9.30am on June 7 found a number of drugs and equipment along with more than $8000 in cash, a police summary of facts stated.

‘‘My client considers drug use a recreational pastime but having come to the attention of the court system, he is a realistic man and is willing to take on the rehabilitative aspects of sentencing and perhaps find another recreational activity,’’ lawyer Neal Harding said when Neale appeared for sentence in Ha¯wera District Court.

Neale had previously admitted charges of possessing LSD, ecstasy, ketamine, cannabis plant material and pipes for consuming drugs.

While searching the lounge of Neale’s home, police found a sealed plastic bag containing LSD tabs, another with an ecstasy tab and a tablet known as ketamine that was wrapped in tinfoil, the summary said. They also found a plastic bag containing 700 grams of cannabis plant material, a large box containing one kilogram of the plant and another box containing 1.4kg of cannabis.

There was a safe in the lounge and after the defendant told police he had no key and there was nothing inside, police forcibly opened it.

Inside they found a plasticwrapped package of cannabis weighing 250 grams and $6000 in cash. The defendant’s wallet contained $2420 in cash.

Inside a caravan at the address police found three glass pipes used for consuming methamphetamine.

Judge Chris Sygrove sentenced Neale to 150 hours of community work, six months supervision and ordered the destruction of the seized drugs.

‘‘Your attraction to drugs including LSD, methamphetamine and cannabis will lead to your undoing,’’ he said.