Staying in jail

A Dunedin man who sold cannabis and ritalin to an undercover police officer while on home detention for earlier drug-dealing will remain behind bars for at least another year.

Phillip David Wallace was sentenced to two years and three months' jail in July last year after admitting 18 charges related to possessing and dealing cannabis and ritalin.

The 52-year-old Dunedin man appeared before the New Zealand Parole Board earlier this month on his first parole hearing.

The board's decision revealed Wallace had an extensive history of drug and violent offending.

The offending he was jailed for related to selling cannabis and ritalin to an undercover police officer for almost two years between July 2014 and April 2016. He was serving a sentence of home detention at the time.

``It is of concern that while serving a sentence of home detention for drug dealing, Mr Wallace gave himself permission to commit this further index offending,'' the board said.

``That demonstrates to the board that even subject to conditions from probation, this man can and will reoffend.''

He was assessed as a moderate risk of re-offending and still presented an ``undue risk to the safety of the community''.

He was currently engaged in a drug treatment programme behind bars.

``Even after completion of the [programme], Mr Wallace will require time to demonstrate his learnings from that programme,'' the board said.

``A prison setting is best for that purpose rather than immediately moving to consider release.''

Wallace would next appear before the board in February next year.

His statutory release date is in July 2018.

timothy.brown@odt.co.nz

 

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