Viagra hoarder’s hard luck exposed

Elijah Nuku could have been up for a stiff fine or prison time after police found almost 1200 Viagra tablets at his Hastings home.

But yesterday a judge handed down a softer option – 12 months’ intensive supervision and 100 hours of community work.

Nuku appeared in Hastings District Court, where he pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including possessing prescription medication for sale, in the form of 1188 Viagra pills.

The charge, under the Medicines Act, carries a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment or a $40,000 fine.

Nuku’s lawyer, Matthew Phelps, told Judge Gerard Winter his client had been suffering addiction issues and had been in a ‘‘downward spiral’’ over recent months after an accident and operation which had resulted in him going on ACC.

The 27-year-old also pleaded guilty to charges of possessing anabolic steroids, possessing methamphetamine, reckless driving, driving while disqualified, resisting police, unlawfully possessing firearms, receiving and possessing drug utensils.

The court was told the charges stemmed from three separate incidents in January, June and on July 5, when police found a number of items at Nuku’s home, including the stash of Viagra tablets, worth about $12,000.

The time Nuku had spent in prison since his arrest had been a ‘‘salutary lesson’’, Phelps said.

The judge said Nuku’s intensive supervision should have a focus on addiction rehabilitation.

He ordered the destruction of the drugs and firearms seized by police.