Wellington businessman pleads guilty to drugs charges

File photo / NZ Herald

A Wellington businessman, who also ran for a spot on the city council, has pleaded guilty to drugs charges today.

John Augustine Coleman, 61, admitted at the Wellington District Court to possessing cannabis and cannabis resin.

Coleman ran the popular Hummingbird restaurant on Courtenay Place until he handed over the business to his sons last year.

In court today, police prosecutor Sergeant Barney Soutar said police searched Coleman's property on October 24 and discovered a small amount of cannabis and cannabis resin in his bedroom.

Coleman admitted the drugs belonged to him and said he thought they had been there a long time.

Judge Stephen Harrop said Coleman had a history of drug offending, but noted his last offence was in 2000.

Coleman was fined $500 plus court costs for the resin charge and was convicted and discharged on the cannabis charge.

Earlier this year Coleman ran for a seat on the council in the Eastern Ward.

He was not elected, and came sixth in the race out of 10 candidates.