KEY POINTS:
A judge has given a dressing-down to the parents of a Gate Pa teenager who was caught growing three cannabis plants in the bathtub of the family home, saying "no wonder he is the way he is".
Judge Paul Geoghegan made the comment to the parents of Harley Annas-McGillan, 18, after they confirmed they knew he was growing the illegal drug but argued "what could they do?" to stop him.
"This is crazy stuff. You should have taken them out and destroyed them," the judge said. "As parents, that's what you do. It's not a difficult concept.
"No wonder your 18-year-old son is the way he is."
Annas-McGillan, of Gate Pa, was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court after he pleaded guilty to 10 charges.
These included possession of a knife in Chadwick Rd, stealing diesel and truck equipment valued at $2500, and unlawfully being on a yard, also in Chadwick Rd.
All three offences were committed on January 18.
He was also charged with cultivating cannabis on February 27 and possessing drug utensils.
Annas-McGillan admitted driving while disqualified on April 2 and driving while disqualified for a third and subsequent time.
He also admitted driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 563 micrograms on Langstone Rd on May 2 and failing to stop for the police.
His lawyer, Ned Burke, said his client should be sentenced to supervision.
Judge Geoghegan said Annas-McGillan needed guidance. "I think you are a relatively immature young man who needs to grow up and grow up quickly.
"And if you don't you may well find yourself in prison, as you are fast running out of other options."
Judge Geoghegan told Annas-McGillan, who has a 13-week-old child, that if he wanted to be more than just a biological parent he needed to change his "destructive unproductive lifestyle".
Annas-McGillan was sentenced to six months' home detention, 12 months' intensive supervision, and lost his driving licence for 16 months. He was fined $500 plus $130 court costs.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
