$300 fine for drug charge

A 42-year-old man who said he took the Class C controlled drug commonly referred to as BZP to alleviate back spasms and tremors was convicted and fined $300 at Masterton District Court yesterday.

A police summary said that on October 28, 2012, Richard Jason Mariu, of Masterton, was stopped by police on Te Ore Ore Rd for an alcohol breath test.

As a result of the roadside test Mariu, who uses a wheelchair, was directed to accompany police officers to Masterton Police Station for further testing.

As Mariu was being helped from his car, police found a knife hidden between the driver's seat and centre consol and decided to search the vehicle.

In the back seat, police found a brown leather vest which had a small silver container inside it holding a plastic bag with a quantity of white powder.

Tests later confirmed it was the Class C controlled drug Benzylpiperazine (BZP).

At the roadside, Mariu told police everything inside the car was his own, however, later at the station he said the items had been in his car for some time and he didn't know what the substance was.

Defence lawyer James Elliott said Mariu used BZP as a way of dealing with his back problems. He said Mariu had also pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity.

"Mr Mariu suffers from a spinal injury and, as a result, he suffers from spasms and tremors throughout his back," he said. "He finds that stimulants help him and, while I'm not offering it as an excuse, it is a reason why he used it."

Mr Elliott said Mariu was unemployed, however, he worked as a voluntary shearer from time to time.

Judge Michael Behrens also ordered Mariu to pay court costs of $132.89 and directed that the drugs be destroyed.