Teenage cannabis dealer opts for jail time
A Queenstown teenager has been jailed for 10 months – at his request – on cannabis dealing charges.
George McCrostie, 18, opted not to have his Christchurch District Court sentencing delayed for a home detention report, in favour of a short prison term.
He has already served 105 days of the sentence while in custody on remand.
McCrostie’s father was in court to support him at the sentencing by Judge Raoul Neave.
The judge said he had initially seen McCrostie as “an immature, selfish, and unmotivated young man” whose life had been significantly affected by cannabis.
But he now noted that the time in custody had brought some clarity and there were signs of him growing up. He had made good use of his time in prison in doing training courses.
Defence counsel Kirsten Gray said McCrostie took full responsibility for the offending. It was low level offending, but there was no suggestion he was pushing cannabis onto other people. “They have been coming to him and he’s been supplying it.”
Judge Neave told him: “You have a supportivefamily. They have provided you with a great start in the world, which you have thrown away.”
He reduced the jail sentence for McCrostie’s youth and his commitment to change, and imposed a 10-month term which will be followed by six months of standard and special release conditions.
McCrostie had pleaded guilty to four charges involving cannabis supply, or offering to supply the drug, and a breach of an earlier supervision sentence.
Category: Focus
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