Supplier gets community detention after young dad’s drug death
A West Auckland man has been sentenced to community detention and supervision for supplying synthetic drugs to a young father who died soon after using the substances.
Calum Jones, 22, died at his Henderson home in September 2017 soon after using the toxic drugs.
The father-of-one had been fighting an addiction to synthetics for years and had been home from fulltime rehab for one day when he died.
As a result of a police investigation into Jones’ death, Jonathan Gordon was charged with supplying a psychoactive substance to a person.
Gordon admitted the charge earlier this year and was yesterday sentenced in the Waita¯kere District Court.
During sentencing Judge Noel Sainsbury said Gordon was not charged with causing the death of Jones — it was simply a charge of supplying the drug.
“The defendant’s actions cannot be attributed to the death of Calum Jones — but police submit the actions of the defendant helped to support and enable Mr Jones’ addiction,” the prosecutor told the court.
“This and other cases like it clearly demonstrate and illustrate the extent of harm that is caused or can be caused by this substance.”
Defence lawyer Karl Trotter said Gordon conceded meeting up with Jones the night before he died and “sharing” synthetic drugs.
“He accepts that what he did contributed to the unhappiness of others, he accepts that unreservedly.”
Judge Sainsbury said he was not able to sentence Gordon as if he was the person that caused Jones’ death.
“However, that death still features in this sentencing, still needs to be taken into account,” he said.
Gordon was sentenced to three months’ community detention, 18 months of intensive supervision and 100 hours of community work.
“I am hoping you are genuine about changing your life,” the judge said. “You owe that at the very least to your friend and his family.”
He also ordered Gordon to have judicial monitoring to ensure he was complying with his conditions and sentences.
A group of Jones’ family — including his father Lewis and sister Heather — and close friends were in the courtroom for the hearing.
His mother, Lorraine, could not attend because she is overseas. But she wrote a victim impact statement that was read to the court.
“For the past seven months I, along with my family, have struggled with the pain, anger and grief of losing one so close to our hearts,” she said.
“While we realise that it was Calum’s addiction that ended his young life, we cannot help but feel resentment towards the dealer.”
“What these dealers fail to understand is that although to them it’s just another sale, the lasting effects that synthetic drugs has on families is catastrophic.
“Suppliers of synthetic substances need to comprehend that an addict’s life is worth more than $20 to the family and friends that are left behind.”
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