A Hastings man has been remanded to appear in the High Court for sentencing on cannabis charges uncovered in a police crackdown on employees of retailing chain Switched On Gardener.
Kevan Darryl Salisbury appeared in Napier District Court yesterday but Judge Tony Adeane denied sentencing jurisdiction because of the nature ofthe offences and the penalty being sought, meaning it could be considered only by a High Court judge.
Salisbury, having pleaded guilty to 10 charges including cannabis supply and supplying equipment for the use of cannabis, was granted continued bail to appear in the High Court on a date to be set.
The Hastings man's arrest, and that of a fellow Hastings Switched On Gardener employee, were part of a two-year nationwide police drugs offensive named Operation Lime, which culminated with a series of raids and arrests in April.
