A former policeman was sentenced to two months in prison after pleading guilty in the Auckland District Court yesterday to possession of cannabis and Ecstasy.
Tyler Stephens, aged 25, was suspended from the police force after officers found 709mg of Ecstasy hidden in a laundry basket during a search of his Blockhouse Bay house in May.
Last month, police approaching Stephens outside his house caught him throwing away a parcel containing 2.7g of cannabis.
Stephens, a police constable since mid-1997, had worked at the Balmoral station since April 1999.
His counsel, Roger Chambers, told the court yesterday that Stephens had sent a letter of resignation to Police Commissioner Rob Robinson last Monday.
The court heard that Stephens claimed someone at a gym gave him the small bag of Ecstasy to help him train. He was suspicious of the powdery content, but neglected to throw it out.
Judge Graham Hubble said he doubted that Stephens had the Ecstasy in his laundry basket for legitimate purposes.
"I am left with some suspicion ... any police officer who is found in possession of a drug of this kind must expect a term of imprisonment," Judge Hubble said.
He sentenced Stephens to two months' jail on the charge of possession of Ecstasy and convicted and discharged him on the possession of cannabis charge.
Three other drug-related charges were withdrawn.
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