KEY POINTS:
A leading Auckland fashion designer found guilty of operating a large-scale cannabis growing operation has had his sentencing delayed.
Jason Crawford, 35, was due for sentencing today after being found guilty by an Auckland District Court jury in November of 12 charges.
But Judge Mary Beth Sharp told the court this afternoon after consultation with lawyers that Crawford's sentencing could not proceed.
Crawford's case was put off until a callover in Auckland District Court on February 19, when a new sentencing date will be set. Crawford, who has been remanded in custody, will not have to attend the callover.
Crawford, the designer behind the successful knitwear label Insidious Fix, was found guilty of two charges of cultivating cannabis, one of selling cannabis and nine of receiving stolen property.
The charges were laid after police raided an Onehunga warehouse in November 2005, where they found $1 million worth of cannabis plants ranging in size from seedlings to fully grown.
Frances Kitson, who admitted charges related to the operation when the jury trial started and who appeared as a defence witness during Crawford's trial, was sentenced today to two-and-a-half years in jail.
- NZPA
