A convicted drug dealer was congratulated by a judge for turning his life around through participation in a rehabilitation programme - an initiative that saved him from going to jail.
Ike Kingi, 32, had earlier pleaded guilty to five charges of offering to supply methamphetamine, one charge of supplying methamphetamine and another of possession of cannabis for supply.
He appeared for sentencing in the High Court at Whangarei this week.
In October last year, Justice Paul Heath gave Kingi a chance to complete the course instead of sending him straight to jail and was this week satisfied with the progress he'd made.
The judge said Kingi had been respectful, responsible, passed all the drug tests and showed courage to reject gang associates.