Pike River survivor’s descent into drugs
Surviving the Pike River mine tragedy when so many friends died sent Joshua Murray Jackson into a spiral of drug abuse and dealing that has now led to a four-year six-month jail term.
Jackson, 26, worked at Pike River.
At his sentencing in the Christchurch District Court today, Judge Phillip Moran told him: “The 29 people killed were known to you, friends of yours, and you could not get your head around the fact that you weren’t at the coal face that day, and why should you survive when they all died.
“You took refuge in drug use and that is what leads you here today.”
Jackson was appearing for sentence after admitting charges of dealing in class A and B drugs, selling class C, possession of drug utensils and equipment, and possession of firearms and explosives. Dealing in class A drugs carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Much of the charges arose from police surveillance of his text messages which showed him offering to supply LSD at least 17 times, and 20 sales of MDMA (the class B drug Ecstasy), and some offers to supply cannabis. The offending took place from September 2012 to January 2013.
When the police raided his property on January 24, a pipe and a pill press was found, along with a cut-down .22 rifle and explosives. Judge Moran said there were no detonators for the explosives and there did not seem to be anything sinister about that charge and the firearms offence.
He increased the sentence for the firearm and explosives possession offences and for Jackson’s prior similar offending.
The offending indicated low-level drug dealing in a situation where Jackson was addicted to “the whole cocktail” and was selling drugs to get money to keep buying them for his own use.
“You are not a drug dealer. You are better than his,” said Judge Moran. “You have to pay the price that comes with drug dealing.”
The judge welcomed Jackson’s family members who were attending the sentencing and had provided “loving and supportive letters”. He said it was a sad day.
Defence counsel Kerry Cook said Jackson had taken advantage of all the help available during his remand in custody. He was a model prisoner, who had completed a business literacy course while in prison.
Judge Moran noted that Jackson had made sterling efforts to beat his drug addiction since he had been in custody.
“Love you, Josh,” said one of the family members as he was led to the cells to begin his sentence.
Category: Focus
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