Synthetic cannabis addict stole from family, friends
Daniel Philip Diack says he can’t believe the crimes he committed against family and friends while he was addicted to synthetic cannabis.
The 23-year-old from Southland told his Christchurch District Court sentencing that he was thankful to find himself on remand in prison.
Defence counsel Tom Stevens said: “He says the first three or four days were extremely difficult to deal with, but he feels at long last he has detoxed.”
Diack had burgled and stolen from family and friends at properties in Invercargill and Winton.
He has now written a letter of apology that was handed to Judge John Strettell and he has gone to jail for 18 months for a long list of offences.
He came out of prison in 2010, got a job, and got his life on track.
Mr Stevens explained: “He then fell into this addiction with synthetic cannabis. This addiction took over his life. He had two or three court appearances in 2014 and now this. He is the first to accept that he just lost control.”
He could not believe what he had done while under the influence of the drug, and he had apologised to his victims.
Diack admitted thefts from family members in Winton in October, then a burglary in Invercargill in May, and two more thefts in june. He failed to complete a community work sentence of 240 hours, having done only 37 hours, and he was caught drink-driving and driving while his licence was suspended.
The items stolen included petrol, pies, a skill-saw, a computer gaming console, and camera.
Judge Strettell told him: “It is unfortunate that many of these offences were against friends and family. That really emphasises the depth into which you had fallen in regard to your approach to life and the way in which your addictions had taken over, where you were taking property belonging to family and friends to sustain a lifestyle dependent on drugs and alcohol.
“Surprisingly, your family haven’t thrown you away, and see the possibility of your return. That needs time and it needs you to really carry out the promises to change that you make in your letter.”
He imposed the 18-month jail term, disqualified Diack from driving for a year, and ordered him to pay reparations totalling $226.
Category: Focus
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