Man faces meth, cannabis and burglary charges

A 35-year-old Ahipara man who has yet to plead to 37 charges of dealing methamphetamine, was denied bail when he appeared before Judge John McDonald in the Kaitaia District Court last week.

Police had no issue with Tawa Trethewey's parents, described by the prosecutor as respectable people, but did have concerns regarding their ability to control their son.

Trethewey, who also faces seven counts of dealing cannabis and one of burglary, was remanded in custody to appear again on Thursday week, when he is expected to make application for electronically-monitored bail.

The drug charges were laid as a result of the investigation of a burglary, involving the theft of $24,500 worth of property from the Community Business and Environment Centre nursery in Kaitaia. That investigation also implicated two more alleged offenders, 28-year-old Awanui woman Hayley Maree Tomars, who denied six charges of supplying methamphetamine and requested trial by jury, and 39-year-old Auckland woman Sorrell Kate Alexandria Hooton, who faces one charge of supplying methamphetamine.

She too has pleaded not guilty and requested trial by jury.

Both were remanded on bail last week, although the police described Tomars as having a history of breaching court orders. Judge McDonald noted that she had no record for breaching bail, however, while counsel Catherine Cull said she had no drug-related convictions.

She was bailed to an address in Kaitaia, on conditions including that she not possess or have access to a cell phone or electronic device that would give her access to the internet.

Tomars is to appear again on Thursday next week, and Hooton on October 15.

Meanwhile Ken Bailey, counsel for Trethewey (described by the police and Judge McDonald as at the "top of the tree" of the three alleged offenders), said his client had no previous drug convictions, and while he did have a record for breaching bail that was some time ago. His previous convictions were moderately serious at worst.

Trethewey had been successful as a sportsman and academically, but had developed a drug problem. His father had actively tried to help him, successfully, over a period of years, but he had "fallen off" in the past; he had a history of addiction, and had "fallen off" again.

His father had been to Kaitaia Hospital and the Salvation Army, both of which were willing to help his son, and the defendant had been trying to find a programme that would help him.

"He wants to put this lifestyle behind him," Mr Bailey said.