Ex-policeman in custody on wedding day

IN DOCK: Anthony Brooks being sentenced on methamphetamine and cannabis charges yesterday.JOHN BORREN 180909JB02BOPYou should have known better, says judge
A former police officer missed his wedding because he was in custody on drugs charges.
It is understood Anthony Brooks, 38, worked as a police officer for at least eight years but was employed as a marketing manager when police searched his Papamoa home earlier this year.
The raid uncovered drugs, including methamphetamine, BZP and cannabis, as well as a stolen laptop computer.
Brooks spent four days in custody, including three in Waikeria Prison, having been denied bail on his first court appearance on drug supply allegations, which were later withdrawn.
Brooks was sentenced to 110 hours' community work when he appeared before Judge Thomas Ingram in Tauranga District Court for sentence yesterday and was told by the judge he presented  "somewhat of an enigma".
He was someone who had not only held down quite a responsible job, but had previously worked as a police officer.
"You, more than anybody, knew what you were getting involved in was illegal and the consequences, and what you did reflects absolutely no credit on you," Judge Ingram said.
Brooks had earlier pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis, possession of cannabis, receiving stolen property, possession of BZP, possession of methamphetamine and possession of pipes for consuming methamphetamine.
Two other drug supply charges, and a charge of blackmail, were withdrawn last month.
The court was told a laptop computer was stolen from a Papamoa address in March this year. Later that month, an associate brought the computer to Brooks and asked him to wipe the hard drive.
When police searched the home of Brooks and his partner Kyra Morrisey on April 3, they located the laptop and two cannabis plants in pots and another two in the hot water cupboard. Pipes for the methamphetamine were also found, along with .097 of a gram of methamphetamine, plus 42.9g of dried cannabis head and plant material and 4.5g of BZP in a plastic bag inside a tobacco tin.
Brooks told police the drugs were for personal use, and he was just wiping the laptop computer for a friend.
Lawyer Ron Mansfield said Brooks and his fiancee had suffered serious personal loss, and had to cancel their wedding day as result of his custodial remand. They also forfeited $8000 of wedding deposits and Brooks subsequently lost his employment as a marketing manager.
"You may say these effects were of his own making but nevertheless they were significant losses over and above those which were usual."
Mr Mansfield said Brooks was a first-time offender with an otherwise unblemished record and of otherwise good character, and references showed he was thought of in high regard.
Unfortunately, Brooks had given into the temptation of recreational drug use and was remorseful for that, Mr Mansfield said.
He urged the judge to take into account that his client had suffered additional stress as a result of the original allegations.
Mr Mansfield said police accepted the drugs were for Brooks' own use and he deserved credit for his guilty pleas entered at the first opportunity once the allegations against him were revised after ESR analysis of the evidence.
 Judge Ingram said Brooks was entitled to the same credit for previous good character as anybody else and also deserved recognition for his more than significant contribution to the community over a number of years.
Brooks and Morrisey  have lodged a complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Authority, relating to their arrests and subsequent treatment. A 22-page document has been filed with the authority.