Curiosity leads to drug conviction

A 25-year-old engineer imported cocaine and ecstasy tablets into Southland because he was curious about buying them off the internet.

Michael David John Kitto appeared before Judge Michael Turner in the Invercargill District Court last week for importing drugs from Germany and the Netherlands.

The summary of facts says Kitto ordered class A and B drugs on three occasions between April and June via the SilkRoad internet site and had them sent to associates' houses.

One of those associates was Gareth John Edlin, 29, who also appeared in court yesterday as a party to the importation on one occasion.

The gram of cocaine ordered has a New Zealand street value of $600, while the ecstasy tablets are valued at between $40 and $60.

Kitto had ordered more than 60 ecstasy tablets and used bitcoins as payment online.

The drugs were intercepted by Customs at the Auckland Mail Centre.

In a combined police and Customs operation, a search warrant was issued on Kitto and Edlin's houses on July 3.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Mills said Kitto said he ordered the drugs because of curiosity and the excitement of using drugs instead of alcohol.

Kitto and Edlin were both remanded to September 15 for sentence.

Assault

Christopher Henry Edwards, 22, farm worker, was fined $250 for disorderly behaviour and ordered to pay $350 emotional harm reparation for assault on June 29.

Wilful trespass

James Douglas Rance Scott, 43, shop assistant, was fined $250 for wilfully trespassing on August 3.

Burglary

Leaana Kauta, 18, was remanded to September 17 for receiving on July 10 and burglary on June 14 and 16.

Sam William Winiana, 21, farmer, of Otahuti, was sentenced to four months and two weeks community detention and six months supervision, fined $300, ordered to pay $532 reparation and disqualified from driving for one month for burglary at Riverton on December 25, breaching community work on May 14 and driving carelessly on May 31.

Theft

Rory Anton Edwards, 30, unemployed, of Bluff, was sentenced to 10 weeks jail and ordered to pay $143 reparation for stealing $200 of grocery items from Countdown and being unlawfully in a yard on May 19.

Resisting police

Alex Christopher McMath, 21, meatworker, was sentenced to 100 hours community work for resisting police and behaving in a disorderly manner likely to cause violence on August 2. He was convicted and discharged for fighting in public.

Intentional damage

Rata Moana Fisher, 47, was sentenced to 40 hours community work and ordered to pay $70 reparation for intentionally damaging a window on July 15.

Driving

Brendon Paul Wilson, 19, farm hand, of Wrights Bush, was sentenced to 100 hours community work and disqualified from driving for six months for driving while disqualified on July 11.

Andrew Tobias Gerritsen, 26, sharemilker, of Waipounamu, was fined $350 for driving while suspended on June 28.

Karwyn Matai Ngatai, 17, unemployed, was sentenced to 100 hours community work and disqualified for nine months for driving dangerously, driving while forbidden and failing to stop for police on August 4.

Brady William Fordyce-Spriggs, 17, farm worker, of Otapiri, was fined $630 and disqualified for three months for driving while forbidden and with a breath alcohol level of 333mcg (under 20) on August 4.

Luanna Selina Coulter, 24, was remanded on bail to September 24 for sentence for driving while disqualified on August 5.

Cory James Meikle was sentenced to 80 hours community work, ordered to pay $250 reparation and $200 emotional harm reparation and disqualified for seven months for driving while suspended and carelessly on June 19.

Logan Rhys Solomon, 19, of Riverton, was remanded to September 17 for sentence for driving while disqualified and with a breath alcohol level of 400mcg (under 20) on July 13.

Tekabu Baia, 31, dairy worker, of Wreys Bush, was fined $1060 and disqualified for seven months for driving carelessly and with a breath alcohol level of 764mcg on July 28.

Kevin Charles Spriggs, 58, driver, was fined $850 and disqualified for one year and one day for driving carelessly and with a breath alcohol level of 533mcg on August 3.

Drink-driving

Robert James Cameron, 33, engineer, of Winton, was remanded to September 17 for sentence for driving with a breath alcohol level of 730mcg on July 28.

Raynor Ranui Larsen, 26, fisherman, of Riverton, 471mcg on August 2. Sentenced to 300 hours community work, fined $500, disqualified indefinitely and authorised to apply for a three-year zero-alcohol licence.