‘Middlemen’ jailed for drug deals

Press, 14 September 1988, Page 28

‘Middlemen’ jailed for drug deals

Claims by two men involved in large cannabis deals with an undercover constable that they were middlemen or gobetweens were questioned by Mr Justice Holland in the High Court yesterday. Both refused to disclose who their supplier was. His Honour also questioned what tunnel houses, quantities of various types of fertilisers and other garden aids destined for the marae at Kaiapoi were doing at a house occupied by one of the accused at Stillwater. Steven John Forster, aged 37, an unemployed freezing worker, was jailed for two years less 14 days on two charges of selling cannabis valued at $BlOO. Peter Kee Bradley, aged 36, a builder, was jailed for 18 months less 14 days on two charges of selling cannabis worth $7OOO. Forster sold two blocks of cannabis, one of 21b (nearly Ikg) for $5600 and one of lib for $2500 to an undercover constable using the assumed name of Robert James Morgan, the police statement said. Forster was located at Kaiata on the West Coast on August 9. He admitted knowing the undercover constable, but would not admit to having any cannabis dealings with him. Bradley sold two blocks of cannabis to the undercover constable for $7OOO. The constable was told that the cost was $2250 a pound. For Forster, Mr Stephen Hembrow said that his client made $4OO on the first deal and $lOO on the second. He was not a man of means, was on the unemployment benefit and was struggling to buy a house, valued at $40,000, for his wife and children. He had only been a middleman. His wife was standing by him. Dealing with Forster,

Mr Justice Holland said that the deals indicated that he was selling cannabis in bulk. Imprisonment was inevitable when substantial sales of cannabis were involved. Forster had told the probation officer that he had made no profit from the deals. “It is almost universal for people who have been convicted of selling drugs to claim that they are middlemen and that they receive only a small proportion of the huge sums of money that are made by drug dealers,” His Honour said. Where substantial quantities of drugs were sold and were shown to be readily available, he had difficulty in accepting that a person should be dealt with as a middleman rather than a dealer. Sadly this was not Forster’s first conviction. Eight years ago he was before the Court for cultivating and having cannabis for supply. On that occasion he was given a most lenient sentence. It had served no purpose, because Forster had told the probation officer that he intended to continue offending against the law in that respect. “Drugs are a scourge in the community. The suppliers of cannabis encourage people into drugs, and those who start on cannabis are encouraged into much more dangerous and addictive drugs,” said Mr Justice Holland. Eight years ago, Forster had been given a chance and he was not entitled to leniency again. Mr Tony Sullivan, for Bradley, said his client was also a middleman between a dealer and buyer of drugs. Because of a fear for the safety of himself and his family he was not able to disclose the name of the person from whom he obtained the cannabis. Bradley had been a leader in Labour Depart-

ment work schemes for criminals, drug addicts and alcoholics and had helped them to become useful members of the community. He had been a worth-while member of society. Bradley had appeared on the marae at Kaiapoi and had received a severe reprimand from his elders. He felt that disgrace very much. He had four children, and his wife was standing by him, Mr Sullivan said. Mr Justice Holland said that Bradley’s sentencing had caused him a great deal of concern. He had sold substantial quantities of cannabis to an undercover policeman. He was impressed .by the references, and by what had been said on Bradley’s behalf by members and elders of his marae and in particular the description of his respected family in the Maori movement. With all families there were black sheep. While Bradley was not a first offender, he was in respect of drugs. “I cannot help but be impressed with what you have done to try to assist less adequate people. “You have served your community well in that regard, but it is frightening that people of your ability and strength of character are leading inadequate and less able persons and assisting them, and at the same time are selling drugs,” said Mr Justice Holland. Duncan Alexander Watson, aged 25, an unemployed factory worker, who had pleaded guilty in the District Court at Greymouth to selling cannabis to an undercover constable, was jailed for eight months by Judge Erber, who said that he did not regard Watson as a principal. Judge Erber committed Forster and Bradley to the High Court for sentence on the charges they faced.