A trainee snowboard instructor was granted a discharge without conviction on cannabis-dealing charges when he appeared before Judge Raoul Neave in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
William James Fowler (26), originally from the United Kingdom but now living in Wanaka, was found guilty of selling the class C drug to various unidentified people in Wanaka on eight occasions between April and July 2013.
Fowler also admitted conspiring to obtain one pound of cannabis (0.45kg) for the purpose of supply.
Defence counsel Tim Cadogan, submitted that a conviction would ruin his client's professional life.
Courts can grant a discharge without conviction if the consequences outweigh the seriousness of the offending.
''What he did was blindingly stupid but out of character,'' Mr Cadogan said.
A conviction would mean Fowler could not return to New Zealand next winter to complete stage three of his snowboarding instructor's course and would be barred from travelling to Japan, Canada and other countries to teach. Mr Fowler has a degree in Japanese.
Mr Cadogan cited the Court of Appeal's decision to quash a conviction for University of Otago student Druvi Patrick Rodrigo for supplying Class B drug Ritalin, instead granting a discharge.
Prosecuting Sergeant Ian Collin opposed the discharge, highlighting the need for a deterrent to other travellers coming to Wanaka and Queenstown to become involved in ''commercial drug dealing''.
Judge Neave agreed with Mr Cadogan that the Court of Appeal case, which related to a more serious charge, was relevant to Fowler's case.
• Central Otago winemaker Dean Wentworth Shaw was also granted a discharge without conviction, on drug possession charges.
Shaw (45), of Cromwell, was caught in possession of nine squares of class A drug LSD and 2.3 grams of cannabis on July 24, after coming to the attention of the Queenstown police for another matter.
Judge Neave granted a discharge without conviction, saying Shaw appeared to be ''having a midlife crisis''. A conviction for possession would adversely affect his business, his family, and his professional life, Judge Neave said.
