'Career criminal' gets 5 1/2 years

A former Nomads gang member with a criminal history spanning 40 years has been jailed for 5 1/2 years for his part in a Horowhenua-based methamphetamine racket.

Dennis Hines, 51, is the eighth member of the drug ring to be convicted in the aftermath of police operation Excelsior, carried out in Levin last year.

He was sentenced in the High Court at Wanganui on one count of conspiracy to supply methamphetamine.

Hines has a criminal history dating from 1969. He has 93 convictions for a range of offences involving drugs, firearms, assaults and threats, the court was told.

Yesterday's sentencing began with a disputed facts hearing into sentencing issues raised by the Crown before the hearing, but it fizzled out when Hines' co-conspirators, Andrew Crombie and Gary O'Connell, refused to give evidence.

Crombie and O'Connell last month received prison terms of nine and eight years respectively for their part in the methamphetamine conspiracy.

Justice Gendall said Hines had been careful not to be involved in selling drugs with the Horowhenua ring, but had offered the other dealers his protection, blessings and experience.

In return, he had clearly received benefits from the gang either in cash or drugs.

Hines' nephew, Willie Hines, was jailed for six years for his part in the ring.

Defence counsel Mike Antunovic said that in recent times there had been many positive changes in Dennis Hines' life.

Hines had been in a stable de facto relationship for 25 years in spite of previous prison time.

He had not worn his Nomads gang patch since his release from prison in 2002.

He had established a close relationship with his 12-year-old son, developed a renewed interest in his Maori culture, and performed good work in the community.

- NZPA