Legal highs blamed for ‘violent and bizarre’ behaviour
Herbal cannabis was blamed for causing immense harm to young people who are acting in a violent and bizarre way, at a sentencing in the Christchurch District Court today.
In sentencing 19-year-old Anthony John Wheble, Judge David Saunders said the teenager’s probation report said he had a significant dependence on synthetic cannabis.
He was being sentenced on charges of theft, shoplifting, demanding to steal, and assault.
Defence counsel Carol Morgan said Wheble could not be detoxed outside of prison, and it was recommended that he do a term in prison, get detoxed, and when released enter a residential programme for drug dependency.
She said it was an unfortunate situation, and a prison sentence was daunting for him because of his anxiety issues.
He was ashamed of his actions and had sought a restorative justice meeting to apologise, she said.
Judge Saunders said in December Wheble stole a bicycle and shoplifted a chocolate bar.
In January he assaulted a man walking with his mother on a city street, and demanded $10.
The man’s victim impact report said people should be able to walk around the city streets without the fear of intimidation and assaults.
“It is apparent this type of drug is causing immense harm to young men and women in the community who are acting in a violent and bizarre way”, he said.
The youth unit at Christchurch prison was a therapeutic environment for vulnerable youth, he said, and ideal for Wheble while he detoxed.
Because of Wheble’s desire to be free of synthetic cannabis he sentenced him to six months prison which would be adequate time to ensure the complete detox of substances, he said.
He imposed special release conditions for nine further months for Wheble to undertake treatment, counselling, and a residential programme for drug dependency.
He thanked Wheble’s parents for being in court today and said Wheble would need their support. One woman who was present to support the youth, told the judge that the synthetic cannabis needed to be banned.
Category: Focus
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