Drug import ferimgs fine

Press, 25 July 1984, Page 4

Drug import ferimgs fine

A young man keen on travel would find himself at a great disadvantage because of a drug conviction, Mr Justice Roper said in the High Court yesterday. Terrence Peter Dorrell, aged 25, an assistant manager, was fined ?1000 on a charge of importing hashish, a class B drug, on February 28. He was found guilty by a j”y-

Evidence was given at the trial that Dorrell had been sent six grams of hashish hidden in a tape recorder which had been posted in England. Dorrell returned from England in January and the parcel arrived on February 28. Mr N. W. Williamson appeared for the Crown.

Mr E. Bedo, for Dorrell, said that his client had no control over the amount of the drug which was sent to him for his own use by “Lance and Lizzie.” He was caught by the provisions of the act but his involvement was minimal. The probation report described Dorrell as a normal young man, who had travelled widely, had no previous convictions and was unlikely to have any in the future. A fine would be an appropriate penalty, Mr Bedo submitted. Mr Justice Roper said that Dorrell had been convicted on the basis that he had been a party to the importation in that he aided or encouraged others to send the drug.

“You have been very foolish, Dorrell, and you have only yourself to blame for the stress this matter has caused you and your wife,” said his Honour. As one who liked to travel overseas, Dorrell would no doubt discover that a drugrelated conviction would be a great disadvantage to him. At 25 Dorrell had no previous convictions and his Honour said that he agreed with the probation officer that he was unlikely to offend again. “Having regard for those circumstances and the quantity of hashish involved, which I accept was for your own use, I do not think that a custodial sentence is called for,” said his Honour.