P dealer breaks free from addiction

Jason Waitere was in the grip of a P addiction when his methdealing operation was busted last year, and he ended up in prison.

But being behind bars gave him the chance to break free from his addiction and make plans to better his life, the New Plymouth District Court was told on Tuesday.

Judge Gregory Hikaka said the 30-year-old’s drug dealing operation was discovered when a vehicle he was driving was stopped by police in 2021. In the car, a baton was found, along with a .223 rifle, ammunition and a pipe used to smoke meth.

A further search was conducted, which included analysis of Waitere’s phone. On it were text messages setting up meth deals with customers, involving about 12.6 grams of P, with a street value between $5000-$8000, the judge said.

At his home, another 17g of the drug was found.

Waitere previously pleaded guilty to five charges, including possession of methamphetamine for supply and unlawful possession of a firearm.

He appeared via audio-visual link from Whanganui prison for Tuesday’s hearing, which ended with him being jailed for three years and six months.

His mother and grandfather were in court to support him.

Crown prosecutor Justin Marinovich said a pre-sentence report completed on Waitere was one of the more ‘‘insightful’’ he had seen, and outlined how the defendant had acknowledged his drug problem and involvement in dealing P.

He said Waitere had spoken about how being in jail had given him a chance to get clean and develop a plan for the future.

Defence lawyer Jo Woodcock submitted there was a causative link between addiction and drug offending.

She said Waitere had been exposed to the illegal drug scene as a child, along with past trauma.

However, he had already enrolled into a specialist drug unit in prison, which boded well for his ongoing rehabilitation, she said.

Judge Hikaka said methamphetamine was a ‘‘curse in the community’’ and use of the class A drug was a factor in many cases which found their way into court.

‘‘The grip it had on you was such that you found it hard to break free from it,’’ the judge said of Waitere’s addiction.

The court heard how Waitere’s father was a drug dealer, and the defendant had grown up in the scene and been exposed to trauma as a result.

One such incident included watching his pet dog be killed over a drug deal gone wrong or out of some form of retribution, the judge said.

However, Waitere had kept the support of other whānau despite his personal struggles, which Judge Hikaka said should give him strength.

He suggested Waitere lean on this when he was released from prison and faced temptation again.

‘‘Look at mum and your koro and recognise the support you have.’’