Judge notes horrific effects of drug on communit
The amount of methamphetamine a Blenheim drug dealer brought into Marlborough has done "untold damage" to the community, according to a district court judge.Crown prosecutor Hugh Boyd-Wilson said police had been watching 30-year-old Dallas Edward Oran Shave since he was released on parole in June 2009 after being in jail for selling methamphetamine.
They noticed he made frequent trips to Auckland and searched him at Nelson Airport on March 19 last year after a flight from Auckland.
Police found 25.1 grams of methamphetamine, also known as P, on Shave, Mr Boyd-Wilson said.
If Shave had bought a similar amount of methamphetamine during his 19 previous trips to Auckland, he would have brought in about 475g, which would have a street value of up to $684,000, he said.
When Shave appeared in the Blenheim District Court on Friday for sentencing, his lawyer Gary Sawyer said Shave disputed the amount of methamphetamine police estimated he brought to Marlborough.
But Mr Sawyer said Shave wanted to "move on" with his life.
Shave was a heavy P user and 15g of the methamphetamine he was carrying at Nelson were for his own use. The rest was to be packaged in 1g bags and sold for $800, he said.
Shave had been ordered to take counselling as part of his parole conditions, which he saw as "essential to avoid being back in his situation".
"While he was looking for help he was getting back into it [using methamphetamine].
"The drug had completely overtaken him and he wanted to break free from his addiction."
However, Mr Boyd-Wilson said Shave had organised the trips to Auckland and had travelled under a false identity.
If he had not been caught, Shave would have continued buying the drug and bringing it back to Marlborough, he said.
Judge Tony Zohrab said the large amount of methamphetamine Shave brought to the region had caused "untold damage" and the community needed to be protected from him.
He found it difficult to accept Shave's expression of remorse and shame.
"It's difficult when you deal with someone who is addicted," the judge said. "It's difficult to accept the truth of anything [they say].
"Your remorse is nothing more than remorse for the situation you're in."
He sentenced Shave to jail for six years and eight months with a minimum non-parole period of three years and four months.
Shave had admitted dealing methamphetamine, and possessing methamphetamine for supply, possessing cannabis and possessing a pipe for smoking methamphetamine.
- The Marlborough Express
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