district court logo

New Zealand Police v Griffiths [2020] NZDC 7356

Published 27 April 2022

Sentencing — possession of drugs — methamphetamine — LSD — cannabis — GBL — breach of Health Act — breach of COVID-19 lockdown rules — global pandemic — coronavirus — Alert Level 4 — Health Act 1956. The defendant appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to charges of possession of drugs and drug utensils, and two breaches of the Health Act. The defendant had, at various intervals, been in possession of methamphetamine, LSD, cannabis and GBL as well as a pipe used for methamphetamine. The Health Act breaches related to the Alert Level 4 lockdown rules, whereby the defendant had left her home to procure methamphetamine on multiple occasions despite warnings from police, who had finally charged her. The Judge inferred that the defendant was unable to adhere to the lockdown rules against the background of her meth addiction. In considering the appropriate sentence, the Judge noted that the defendant would not have received one of imprisonment but for the COVID-19 situation. The Judge deemed that imprisonment was in the public interest, as the defendant was unable to comply with the lockdown rules. For the drug-related offending, one month's imprisonment was given, and for the Health Act breaches another month. Judgment Date: 30 April 2020.