A tent-dwelling drug dealer who offered LSD for sale on Facebook, under his own name, claimed the hallucinogenic drug could ‘‘stop retardation’’.
James Daniel McRobbie, 45, of Queenstown, was among more than a dozen people arrested after a police investigation into a French-themed Facebook drug-dealing page called ‘Les Branleurs en Nouvelle Zelande’, which translates as‘The W…… of New Zealand’.
Although most people offering drugs on the page used bogus profile names, McRobbie used his own profile to offer to supply LSD and cannabis on multiple occasions in September and October last year.
He used drug slang such as ‘Lucy’ for LSD and ‘Marie’ or ‘Mary’ for cannabis, and in the case of the latter drug, specified whether the plants
had been grown indoors or outside.
One post claimed ‘‘studies show that Lucy increases neuroplasticity — stop retardation now and get some’’.
Another said ‘‘don’t forget your breakfast, nice outdoor Marie in Queenstown …’’
McRobbie’s drug-dealing career was interrupted on January 18, when cops searched his address, a tent and two vehicles at the 12 Mile Delta
campground.
They found 157g of cannabis plant in self-sealing bags and $860 cash.
McRobbie claimed his efforts to sell the drug were unsuccessful, and buyers had never shown up for arranged sales.
The cannabis found inside his tent was for personal use, and the cash was savings, he said.
However, he admitted charges of offering to sell cannabis from June 17 to November 28, offering to supply LSD from September 16 to October 3, and possessing cannabis for supply from October 1 to October 10.
At McRobbie’s sentencing in Queenstown’s court on Monday, lawyer Hugo Young said the offending was due to the defendant’s long-standing
drug addiction and his need to finance it.
McRobbie had no previous convictions, and since his arrest had found work as a painter.
He had been living in a tent for at least 10 months, but hoped to move into a house truck soon.
Young said he agreed with a pre-sentence report recommending the defendant receive a supervision sentence so he could get treatment for drug addiction.
Judge Russell Walker sentenced McRobbie to 100 hours’ community work, 15 months’ intensive supervision, and made an order for forfeiture of the cash.
Other sentences
● Jake Charles Beaven, 23, building apprentice, of Queenstown, assault, November 6, emotional harm reparation $1500.
● Sam Williams, 32, of Frankton, breaching home detention, April 18, convicted and discharged.
● Ryan Jackson Armstrong, 38, concrete worker, of Wānaka, theft (groceries valued at $42.37, New World Three Parks), May 21; theft (groceries valued at $53.89, New World Wānaka), May 23; theft (groceries valued at $38.49, New World Three Parks), June 10; theft (groceries valued at $44.71, New World Three Parks), June 11, fined $1000, reparation $134.75.
● Cory David White, 31, scaffolder, of Cromwell, disorderly behaviour, April 22, Wānaka, fined $500, sentence deferred six months.
● Kieran Luke Pittar, 36, of Lake Hāwea, drink-driving (852mcg), Lake Hāwea-Albert Town Rd, June 21, fined $850, disqualified 28 days, alcohol interlock provisions.
● Timothy Kyle Anderson Reay, 42, fork lift operator, of Albert Town, cultivating cannabis, possessing cannabis for supply, offering to sell cannabis, August 5, 2022, Wānaka; drink-driving (1037mcg), Lake Hāwea-Albert Town Rd, May 5, eight months’ home detention, disqualified 28 days, alcohol interlock provisions.
● Keegan Robert Watson-Hopgood, 31, of Frankton, breaching home detention, March 10, sentence deferred nine months.
● Scott David Weir, 45, supervisor, of Frankton, assault, July 3-5, 2022, emotional harm reparation $500, 12 months’ supervision.
● Jeddi Samuel Rex Anderson, 25, of Gibbston, drink-driving (186mg), April 24, 2022, Wellington; drink-driving (868mcg), Arrowtown-Lake
Hayes Rd, March 12, two months’ community detention, disqualified 28 days, alcohol interlock provisions, medical and analyst fees $419.99,
nine months’ supervision.
● Millie Frances Mae Crossman, 34, saleswoman, of Frankton, assault, April 1, Frankton, discharged with out conviction.
● Amy Chantelle Buchanan, 44, bar manager, of Fernhill, drink-driving, 600mcg, Lake Esplanade, March 22, fined $600, disqualified six months.
● Commadore Ronald McCreadie, 40, builder, of Hanley’s Farm, dishonestly using a bank card, July 23-24, 2022, Queenstown; breaching community work, September 15, 2022; driving without a licence, Ladies Mile Highway, June 2, four months’ and two weeks’ community detention, reparation $901.40.
