Sentenced for selling drugs online

An online drug dealer says he never thought police might be on Facebook like everyone else.

Levi Cheyenne Dronsfield, 24, a Christchurch labourer, offered on social media throughout last year to drop off $50 bags of cannabis if buyers contacted him by texting his cellphone.

When police seized the phone in a 5.40am raid on his Seaview Rd, New Brighton, home last August, they found more than 20 sales had been arranged, with Dronsfield doing the drop-offs in a red BMW.

His cannabis dealing on social media has landed him a ninemonth home detention sentence in the Christchurch District Court and another 60 hours of community work added to 85 hours he is still doing from an earlier sentence.

Dronsfield was said by the police to have connections with the King Cobras gang when police arrested him and two others in the raid on the Seaview Rd home.

Police said that three people lived at the property, which was equipped with an extensive security system.

Dronsfield pleaded guilty in October to charges of selling cannabis, unlawful possession of a 9mm revolver, two charges of unlawful possession of ammunition and obstructing a constable.

Defence counsel Peter Dyhrberg said the offending happened when Dronsfield was on a benefit and under financial pressure.

Judge David Saunders pointed out he used Facebook to advertise his wares.

‘‘It was fairly obvious what was going on,’’ said Dyhrberg. ‘‘Hence the prompt resolution [of the charges].’’

Judge Saunders asked Dronsfield: ‘‘Don’t you know that the police, like anybody else, can get into Facebook and look at what people are saying and doing? Did you know that at the time?’’

Dronsfield replied: ‘‘At the time, I didn’t really think about it.’’

Judge Saunders recalled a case from last year when someone had carried out a commercial burglary and then posted a picture on Facebook of the safe that had been stolen in the boot of the car.

In that case, the offender was ‘‘skiting on Facebook’’.

‘‘It is almost tantamount to saying, ‘Come around and arrest me’. It’s pretty stupid isn’t it?’’ said the judge.

He said the courts frowned heavily on people who were caught with firearms and drugs. They were seriously under consideration for a jail sentence.

He decided in this case that home detention could be allowed, but he warned Dronsfield that if there were any breaches of the sentence or further offending, he would be sent to prison.

Mr Dyhrberg said Dronsfield had recently held a job for a short period and he was going to another job interview this week if his sentence allowed.

Two other people were charged after the police raid and their cases are still being dealt with by the courts.