Pubdate: Mon, 15 Sep 2008
Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2008 Allied Press Limited
Contact:  http://www.odt.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925

DRUGS A 'PERNICIOUS EVIL' - JUDGE

Drug offending is "a pernicious evil in our society", a  Tauranga
District Court judge said today when  sentencing a 43-year-old Paeroa
mother to a year behind  bars on several cannabis related charges.

Emma Esma Sadlier admitted cultivating cannabis to dry,  package and
sell as "tinnies" to supplement her  benefit.

Defence lawyer Peter Attwood told Judge Thomas Ingram  she knew it was
wrong but had no idea jail would be the  outcome.

"Anyone who believes that is living in a dream world,"  the judge
replied.

"If you did not know people who deal in drugs go to  prison then I am
sorry. This is pretty serious  offending."

Sadlier was facing the court for possessing cannabis  for supply,
selling and cultivating it, plus possession  of cannabis plant and oil
and a pipe for smoking it.

"My view is that it is simply inappropriate for people  who deal in
drugs to be sentenced to detention at  home," said Judge Ingram when
he imposed a total of 12  months' imprisonment.

Crown prosecutor Hayley Booth said the defendant had a  history of
cannabis offending.

 From late February to late March, Sadlier watered,  tendered and
supplied nutrients to three cannabis  plants she grew in buckets
behind her Paeroa home.

Over the same period she prepared harvested dry plant,  wrapped it in
tinfoil and sold it to numerous customers  for $20 a tinnie.

When police searched her house on March 27 they found  in the kitchen
four tinnies ready for sale, a blister  pack of cannabis oil, about 2
grams of plant loose on  the bench alongside the oven element which
was heating  "spotting" knives, and a metal cannabis pipe.

Mr Attwood said there was no gang involvement - Sadlier  had "done it
all herself" for monetary gain and for her  own use.

"It has been a watershed because it has jolted her into  getting a
job," he said.

That was why she would have liked to serve her sentence  on home
detention.

A Tauranga woman who grew eight plants was given 200  hours community
service.

Lauren Bunyan, a single mother of four children, was  convicted of
cultivating cannabis.

She said the 2.21kg found by police growing under  lights upstairs in
her house was for her personal use.

"I have real doubts that you are able to use that  amount of
cannabis," said Judge Ingram.

However, there was no evidence pointing to a commercial
operation.

"If you offend like this again, children or no  children, you will go
to prison," he warned her.
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