An accused drug dealer has admitted he lied to police when asked about who owned two black socks containing drugs.
An accused drug dealer has admitted he lied to police when asked about who owned two black socks containing drugs.
A Tauranga man accused of drug dealing claims he obtained the $7000 in cash, $5000 worth of P and 84g of cannabis found inside two socks from doing odd jobs, gambling and burglary.
The unemployed man, who cannot be named for legal reasons and has been on trial in TaurangaDistrict Court, gave defence evidence yesterday. He has denied one count each of possession of P and cannabis, both for supply. During questioning by his lawyer Bill Nabney, the defendant admitted he had lied to police when asked about who owned two black socks containing drugs, cash and digital scales found on a fenceline on his property last year. The accused said both socks and contents were his, and claimed he had placed them on the fence the night before the police raid with the intention of retrieving them and moving them to safer place.
He did not challenge the Crown evidence that his DNA was found all over the items but repeatedly denied he intended selling the drugs.
The defendant said he was a heavy cannabis and methamphetamine user, and claimed the drugs were for personal use, and the drugs and cash had been hidden because he did not want his partner to know how addicted to P he was.
Five cannabis tinnies found inside the house and the P pipes were also his and were intended to be rationed out to him by his partner so he did not smoke them all at once, he told the jury.
During cross-examination by Crown prosecutor Hayley Sheridan, the defendant said he was a long-term P user and had a $700 to $7000 a week P-habit, despite being unemployed for over year and not on a benefit.
When questioned about how he raised the money to buy the drugs and where the $7000 came from, the accused said he did odd jobs and was a gambling addict who had lots of big wins.
Pressed further, the defendant said he had burgled houses at least two or three times a week for the "best part of the year" and sold the stolen items.
