Woman convicted on eight charges

TAKING methamphetamine and being in prison was not a path an Invercargill woman wanted to stay on, she told the court yesterday.

Paige Dee (20) appeared in the Invercargill District Court on eight charges; three of dishonestly getting into a vehicle, obstructing police, possession of an offensive weapon and utensils, assaulting a police officer and aiding a disqualified driver.

Her charges date between December 18 and February 12.

When Judge Russell Walker asked her how she had managed to get off methamphetamine she replied it had been with the support of her family and after witnessing the impact it had on fellow prisoners while she was remanded in custody for a fortnight.

‘‘Seeing what it does to people and what it done to me, it’s not the path I want to stay on,’’ she said.

Defence counsel Scott Williamson said she no longer associated with the people she was with at the time of the offending.

However, when she was asked by Judge Walker if she was still with her partner, who was at present in custody and well known to the Department of Corrections, she admitted she was.

Judge Walker sentenced Dee to 75 hours’ community work, nine months’ supervision and disqualified her from driving for six months. He also ordered the destruction of a methamphetamine pipe and knuckle dusters.