Growing drug results in jail term

Press, 5 March 1987, Page 6

Growing drug results in jail term

Nine months in prison, and a fine of $lOOO, was the sentence given by Judge Anderson to a man who appeared before him in the District Court yesterday. Alan Lawrence Shakes, aged 37, a process worker, was earlier convicted on charges of cultivating 18 mature cannabis plants, possessing the drug for supply, and the possession of a set of scales, and a pipe. The law had seen fit to outlaw this type of operation, said the Judge. Notwithstanding that the defendant had no previous conviction for drug offending, a deterrent sentence must be imposed. The community did not accept the use of such drugs for good reason. The misery and problems they caused was a matter of grave concern, said the Judge.

Counsel, Mr Mark Callaghan, said for a number of years his client had

suffered from a problem with alcohol. He had regularly used cannabis as an alternative to liquor. Shakes had grown the drug for a couple of years, but had been “ripped off.” This year he had planted more cannabis so that if he was again “ripped off” he would have something left for himself, said Mr Callaghan. ROBBERY CHARGE A second man charged with the armed robbery of the A.N.Z. Bank in Stanmore Road on February 26 appeared in court yesterday afternoon. Anthony Stephen Lawson, aged 22, unemployed, was remanded in custody until today. He is charged that being armed with a sawnoff shotgun he robbed Gregory Hannan of $B5OO. The co-offender, Siu Suluvale, aged 20, appeared in court last Saturday. He was remanded in custody until today.