KEY POINTS:
A man found with three glass pipes for smoking methamphetamine told police he needed that many "because they break so easily".
Appearing before Judge Christopher Harding in Tauranga District Court today, Neville Thrupp, 40, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and pipes for smoking P, driving while disqualified for the third or subsequent time, and breaching release conditions.
Prosecutor, Sergeant Roy Blomkamp, said Thrupp was arrested when a police patrol pulled into a Te Puke service station and found him there getting petrol.
After initially claiming his friend had been at the wheel, Thrupp admitted he had driven there from the probation office.
Two small heads of cannabis and the three glass pipes were found in the car, all of which he said were for his own use.
Sergeant Blomkamp told the court Thrupp said he needed lots of P pipes because of frequent breakages.
He had been in prison for driving while disqualified and breaching legally imposed conditions.
"There is a drug problem here," said lawyer Tony Balme.
Thrupp was remanded in custody until March 9 for a probation report and sentence.
- NZPA
