Convicted P user loses his good life

Photo / Martin Sykes

A Taranaki man who once ran a $4 million rural property developed a methamphetamine habit and has now lost control of his farm.

Following a string of drug convictions, Paul James Harrop was struck off as a trustee from the farm on Arawhata Rd, Opunake, after he told Fonterra to bank cheques into his account instead of the farm's, and valuable copper wiring was stripped from a shed, cutting power to pumps and electric fences.

Harrop also used a bank account for unauthorised personal expenditure, and sold stock and vehicles for cash.

Justice Christopher Allan, in the High Court at New Plymouth, this month struck off the convicted P offender, 40, as being a trustee of the Taranaki farm which is being operated by sharemilkers.

The judge noted that Harrop, who was once energetic and successful, had little to do.

Yet he enjoyed $3000 a month from the trustees, lived in a rent-free farm house, had all utility costs covered, got a free weekly tank of petrol and free farm meat.

The judge told how cheques from the farming business went to Harrop, who in June last year was jailed after pleading guilty to four drug-related offences.

In August, Harrop told Fonterra to pay him milk money, transferring farm profits to his TSB Bank in Opunake instead of the farm's trust account at Rabobank.

"He lodged with Fonterra written direction to divert monthly cheques otherwise payable to the trust to his own personal account," Justice Allen wrote in his decision.

"His direction was acted upon by Fonterra which paid approximately $17,000 to Mr Harrop.

"That sum ought to have been paid to the trust bank account."

His decision outlined how Harrop had on many occasions appeared on various criminal charges for meth offences and how he was given the opportunity to attend the Capri Trust programme in Auckland.

"But that did not work out and he left the programme without completing it".

Harrop was jailed during part of last year after pleading guilty to various charges, the judge said. He faced 13 charges initially but nine were withdrawn by police.

He pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, two charges of possessing utensils for methamphetamine and cannabis and allowing his premises to be used for drug offending.

He was jailed for six months on the four charges and a further two months to replace outstanding community work hours. He must also attend drug and alcohol counselling after his release.

In August, Harrop also sold four cows for $3933 but the judge said all stock ownership had been in the trust's name for years.

Justice Allan also described how a farm asset had been robbed. "Of more consequence is the removal of wiring from the old cowshed apparently in order to salvage copper wiring, so removing the source of electricity supply for the rear portion of the farm and leaving that area with no power to operate pumps and electric fences," he said.

Harrop authorised a friend to remove items from the shed, and farm vehicles were also disposed of without authority.

EASY LIVING

Paul Harrop got:
* Rent-free farm cottage.
* Free weekly tank of petrol.
* Free utility services.
* Free meat.
* $3000 a month cash.
* A light workload.