Visit to dying mother allowed before jail time

A routine call-out turned into anything but for police when $43,000 in cash and a significant amount of methamphetamine were found at the scene of a car crash.

The man at the wheel of the crashed vehicle was Jason Andrew Gwatkin, who was given a chance to say goodbye to his dying mother before he was jailed for three years and three months for the illegal find.

The summary of facts stated that Gwatkin crashed his car on State Highway 3 in Midhirst, Taranaki about 11.05pm on August 30 and was found at the scene by police.

‘‘The defendant had been travelling north on a straight piece of road and for no obvious reason lost control of his vehicle,’’ the summary of facts stated. Gwatkin had crossed into the opposite lane of the highway and then slammed into a bank.

The 46-year-old was breath tested and passed, but the officer noticed Gwatkin’s pupils were dilated and he appeared ‘‘very jittery and jumpy’’.

Police asked him to undergo a compulsory impairment test and while Gwatkin initially agreed, he then tried to run away. The police officer grabbed the defendant but Gwatkin broke free again and bolted across the road.

A taser was presented at Gwatkin before he was handcuffed.

Police then searched the defendant’s car and found three plastic bags of methamphetamine, weighing a combined total of 22.69 grams. According to police, this has a street value of between $13,600-$22,690.

Police also found $43,990 in cash in the car. Gwatkin pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine for supply, refusing an officer’s request for a blood specimen and careless driving at Friday’s hearing. Three other charges against the defendant were withdrawn.

Gwatkin appeared in the New Plymouth District Court earlier in the week but the case was remanded to give him a chance to visit his ‘‘extremely ill’’ mother before he was sent to prison. Lawyer Patrick Mooney said Gwatkin’s mother was not expected to survive for much longer. After jailing Gwatkin, Judge Chris Sygrove also disqualified him from driving for six months and granted the forfeiture order sought by police for the cash and drugs.

The defendant had been travelling north on a straight piece of road and for no obvious reason lost control of his vehicle.