Man began taking P 'to lose weight'

A man who started taking P to help him lose weight has been jailed after he was found guilty of possessing 3.5g of the drug.

Richard Mahauraki, 45, was convicted this week after a trial last month for possession of methamphetamine for supply and allowing his family land to be used to cultivate cannabis.

He was jailed for two years and six months.

The drugs, which included two cannabis plants that had the potential to produce $7000 worth of dope, were found by police when they raided Mahauraki's Whakatane address in March 2009.

Mahauraki's lawyer Tony Balme said his client would be most grateful if significant credit was given for his outstanding contribution to the community and his attempts to rehabilitate himself over the past 13 years and staying offence free.

Mahauraki's usage of P, having found it helped with issues associated with his weight problems, had ultimately lead him into the other perils of drug possession and put him in this predicament, he said.

Mr Balme said his client had taken on board the deterrent message of him going to jail and he did not want to find himself involved with the judicial system again once freed.

Judge Thomas Ingram said while he accepted Mahauraki's reasons for using the drug and that it may have been beneficial to him, it was still an illegal drug.

The judge said it was clear from the many testimonials he had read, that Mahauraki had used his past involvement with the Black Power gang to make a substantial and worthwhile contribution towards the safety of the community which he was prepared to take into account.

Judge Ingram said Mahauraki was also entitled to credit for "keeping his nose clean" over past 13 years given his background and history.

"I accept unreservedly you are a man who does have sense of responsibility and are well capable of ensuring you don't reoffend."