A user of synthetic cannabis jailed for burglaries and other offences to feed his habit now wants to help get rid of the drugs in Oamaru and New Zealand, a pledge made in a letter read to the Oamaru District Court yesterday said.
In the grip of K2 synthetic cannabis between January 21 and February 4, Cheyne Michael Fox (23), unemployed, of Oamaru, carried out ''a short spree'' of burglaries to pay for the drug, counsel Kelvin Campbell said.
Judge Joanna Maze jailed Fox for 15 months on four burglary charges of two sheds, a house and a garage in Oamaru and two charges of unlawfully taking motor vehicles.
On two theft charges, he was jailed for one month, to be served concurrently. He was also ordered to pay a total of $2243.71. He was convicted and discharged on two charges of driving while forbidden.
Judge Maze said the offending was to meet the demands of a synthetic cannabis habit. Fox said he was using between six and 10 bags a day, although he did not indicate what he meant by a bag.
Fox said the time in custody awaiting sentencing had given him the opportunity to ''become sober'', reflect on his drug dependency, which had lasted for a very long time, and where it had brought him and his family.
In his letter, Fox said he was relieved to be in the position he now was, to have the opportunity to have another choice and was determined to change, including taking all the courses he could while in prison, which he accepted as an inevitable sentence.
He regretted the pain and anger he had caused to his victims and others in the community, promising to do his best to rectify this.
Offering his support to Oamaru anti-synthetic cannabis campaigner Linda Forbes, who had organised two protest marches against synthetic cannabis, Fox said he wanted to see Oamaru and New Zealand rid of the drugs.
''I will do my best to help her, and anyone else who wants to rid these drugs from New Zealand,'' his letter said.
Judge Maze said the letter was a clear indication of Fox's remorse and his wish to change.
However, because of Fox's past record, including his breach of other sentences such as home detention, imprisonment was the only alternative.
