Disgraced Levin policeman Leon Gary Pigott was sentenced yesterday to 18 months' imprisonment on drugs dealing and possession charges.
Pigott, aged 29, was caught in a drugs sting using undercover officers in June.
Pigott, who grew up in Horowhenua, pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing cannabis for supply and two of
selling cannabis.
Last week in the Palmerston North District Court, Judge Barry Lovegrove declined to sentence Pigott because the maximum penalty he could impose was a year in jail.
Pigott had been caught in possession of eight ounces of cannabis.
A Levin woman was arrested at the same time as Pigott, but charges against her were later withdrawn and her name was suppressed.
Pigott's uncle, Michael James Vinsen, 48, of Longburn, Palmerston North, was sentenced to five months' periodic detention after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis, offering to sell cannabis, and two charges of selling the drug. Central Districts police commander Mark Lammas has said that none of the cannabis cited in the charges was taken from police stocks after being seized from criminals.
Horowhenua police were reportedly shocked and angered by Pigott's arrest.
They felt that he had let them down and harmed public confidence in them.
The police hierarchy has discounted speculation that the undercover sting also nabbed another police officer dealing in drugs.
