A 65-year-old pensioner caught running a commercial cannabis operation with $108,000 in cannabis plants has been sentenced to nine months home detention.
Sheryl Margaret Kingi appeared in Tauranga District Court on Thursday after earlier pleading guilty to one count of cultivating cannabis and one count of possessing cannabis for supply.
Photo: File.
According to the summary of facts, police found a commercial size cannabis operation where cannabis was being grown, dryed and packaged in Kingi's garage and adjoining unit when they searched her Rotorua property on June 11.
The garage had been divided into three main areas, which police refer to as a "primary grow-room", "secondary grow-room" and "operations area".
In total, police found 119 cannabis plants, 30 seedlings and 2.37kg of cannabis head material at the property.
Kingi suffered a heart attack on the day of the arrest.
Police say electricity account records for the property suggested the operation had been in effect since at least May 2009. During the previous 12 months the property had used an average 82 units of power per day. The national average for a similar house was 24 units.
In sentencing the Crown told the court it was a sophisticated operation and the defendant had all the necessary equipment.
'She had three different rooms where she was growing cannabis at different stages.
'It was expensive and there was a lot of time and effort in setting up this operation. It was an extensive commercial growing operation.”
Kingi's lawyer, Des O'Connor, admits this is a very surprising case because no one that knew her, including her daughter and ex-husband, knew this operation was in place.
'She kept this totally to herself. At 65 you would have thought she would have known better,” says Des.
In sentencing Judge Peter Rollo told Kingi this was serious offending that was certainly out of character for someone who has no previous convictions.
'This was serious offending and the impacts on members of the community could have been serious as well. Young people who use cannabis run the risk of reparable damage,” says Judge Rollo.
Judge Rollo sentenced Kingi to nine months home detention at a Rotorua address along with 175 hours community work.
7 comments
Shyte!
Posted on 04-10-2013 09:51 | By Tama
Another low sentence for these people destroying our communities with their drugs! This was a well organised commercial operation. Wake up judges our laws need much stronger sentences imposed!
Inadequate
Posted on 04-10-2013 11:32 | By Thoughtful
sentencing once again. This was a 'sophisticated operation' for significant personal gain, not just a pensioner trying to add a bit extra to her pension. I dare say that if this a 30 yr old male being convicted for a similar offence would receive a much harsher sentence. There should be no discrimination in these cases.
Posted on 04-10-2013 13:42 | By faust01
its only illegal because noone (in New Zealand) has yet ticked the box to say its legal. similar to alcohol and tobacco.. its legal to make your own, but illegal to sell it. Has anyone address why she was selling it ? probably to make some money because she doesn't want to slave at McDonalnds until the day she dies on the counter
Kia Kaha Sheryl
Posted on 04-10-2013 15:10 | By Blaze
Wow. I'm amazed at the ignorance of some commenters trying to take the moral high ground. This should have been a discharge without conviction. Grower like this provide medicine for those who need it. Kia Kaha Sheryl.
wake up Tama
Posted on 04-10-2013 15:28 | By the kurgan
"destroying our communities with drugs"? first off, cannabis is not a drug, it is a very effective natural herbal medicine. If anything is destroying our communities its the mindless garbage on TV, toxic processed food, prescription drugs, brainwashing state education, sports addiction and fear of not fitting in the system. Cannabis oil extract IS THE MOST PROVEN EFFECTIVE CURE FOR ALL CANCERS, but hey you wont hear about that on the for profit corporate controlled mainstream media. by the way I've used cannabis for over 36 years, never been on the dole and been with same company for 20 years, never beaten anyone and never stolen off anyone. It's funny how people who have never used cannabis think they know everything about it. Don't believe every thing Barbie and Ken tell you on the 6 o'clock news. time to go, it's almost 4.20.
@kurgan
Posted on 05-10-2013 10:47 | By Sambo Returns
40 years for me, mind you 10 years off that for X wife, telling me it was dangerous PUH!!!, same story kurgan, and good on you for voicing your opinion, I do not drink or use tobacco, have more steel in me than most modern cars, and am over conventional pain relief, now that is addictive, like alcohol!!!.
@Kurgan
Posted on 05-10-2013 13:14 | By paplocs
Kurgan, a truer word has never been spoken!..well done! :)
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.