Games boxer grew dope to ease pain of broken bones

Former Commonwealth Games boxer Daniel Lee Morris took to using cannabis to relieve the pain from his many broken bones.

Police found a small-scale cannabis growing operation when they raided his home, Sergeant Mark Berryman told Judge Phillip Moran in Christchurch District Court yesterday.

The 39-year-old sickness beneficiary pleaded guilty to that charge, and to possessing a firearm without a licence.

Duty solicitor Jeff McCall said Morris had broken his right hand a number of times. "His way of relieving the pain was the consumption of cannabis."

He said there was nothing sinister behind the possession of the rifle. It had been given to Morris by his father when he was 18. His firearms licence had lapsed and he had not renewed it.

The Canterbury boxer was chosen to compete for New Zealand at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, in the light welterweight class. His medal bid ended when a Ghanaian boxer broke five of his ribs.

Morris was in the news two years ago when he took the lease and became manager of the old Ozone Hotel in Christchurch's seaside suburb of New Brighton, intending to refurbish and reopen it.

Judge Moran noted it was the second time Morris had been convicted of cannabis cultivation, and imposed a total of 200 hours of community work.

He advised Morris that if he were arrested a third time, he could face jail. He did not order forfeiture of the rifle, but told Morris he had to get a licence.

- NZPA