Hospo worker jailed for drug dealing, faces deportation

A diary checklist found by police belonging to an English drug dealer in Queenstown read ‘‘time to sort my life out’’.

James Elston, 33, has been jailed for 22 months after previously admitting to possessing ketamine for sale, possessing LSD for supply, possessing cannabis for sale, having cannabis utensils, and representative charges of offering to supply LSD and ecstasy. The charges were laid after a search warrant in May last year.

Elston, originally of East Yorkshire appeared for sentencing in the Invercargill District Court yesterday before Judge Russell Walker. He had come to New Zealand about five years ago before extending his visa and continuing to work in hospitality in Queenstown.

After a relationship breakdown, he began self-medicating with alcohol and drugs, the judge said.

When police searched his house in May, they found $2760 in cash, five mobile phones, a diary checklist of deals and debts, LSD tabs, two bags of what was believed to be ketamine, cannabis grinders, scales and resealable plastic bags.

The diary had a heading ‘‘time to sort my life out, get a job in Auckland’’, the judge said.

Police found evidence of drug dealing on a phone, including a message sent to 15 people saying Elston was out of cannabis because of the Covid-19 lockdown but still had ketamine and ecstasy.

Elston had no previous convictions but the offending had been going on for about 12 months.

Defence lawyer Tim Mackenzie contended Elston would not be the last foreign national to succumb to a drug and party lifestyle. Immigration New Zealand would serve Elston a deportation notice before the end of his sentence, Mackenzie said.

Elston’s sentence was reduced for good character, guilty pleas, remorse and being a foreign national in custody.

The judge gave him leave to apply for home detention.