A Dunedin man who was caught poaching pigs with a 15-year-old boy has avoided a prison sentence.
Steven Alan Roberts, 44, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to unlawful hunting, possessing methamphetamine and trespass under the Railways Act.
The court heard that between 10pm on August 16 and 4am on August 17 the defendant was at Taieri Railway Gorge, which has a railway track running through it and is surrounded by farmland.
Permission from the land owner or a permit is required to hunt on the land surrounding the railway tracks.
Roberts was found in the Hindon area illegally hunting with another man and the 15-year-old.
Police saw the trio walk along the railway tracks with dogs without permission.
The group was stopped in a ute which had wild pigs on the back of it.
The vehicle was searched and knives, GPS devices and dog collars were found inside.
Roberts confessed he had been hunting wild pigs but did not know whose land he was on.
He later told a probation officer he had recently met the man he was with and believed he had the appropriate permit.
While on bail for that offending, the defendant bought 1g of methamphetamine.
He admitted smoking it and scraping the residue out of the pipe to snort.
Yesterday, counsel John Westgate said his client had addiction issues.
"This is a man who has acknowledged that he has an issue with drugs, he’s willing to get help," he said.
The unlawful hunting was "a stupid thing to do" and he would have to “pay the price” for it.
Judge Emma Smith said the explanation Roberts gave the probation officer about believing his friend had a permit "might stretch belief".
"It's pretty cynical offending by you," Judge Smith said.
She noted he had no similar prior convictions but did have a significant history of drug-related offending.
"You’re too old to be using drugs ... you’re just going to end up in prison," the judge said.
Judge Smith said it seemed Roberts had not taken advantage of his previous community-based sentences.
"I am going to give you that opportunity ... [but it’s] probably your last chance."
She sentenced Roberts to 150 hours’ community work and nine months’ supervision.
She ordered the hunting equipment found be destroyed and that the defendant pay court costs of $143.
