Sharna Joyce Walker, 33, was sentenced to nine months’ home detention in the Invercargill District Court last week after pleading guilty to possessing methamphetamine for supply and breaching the Search and Surveillance Act.
It marked the defendant’s seventh meth-related offence in the past nine years.
"This is a case of repeat offending of the same nature," she said.
But counsel Anselm Williams said his client deserved significant credit for the 14 months she spent at a residential rehabilitation facility.
He said Walker had moved away from bad influences in Invercargill and was on electronically monitored bail in Auckland.
"She’s been a longtime user and abuser of [methamphetamine] and it’s caused her significant issues," Mr Williams said.
He advocated for a sentence of home detention and said the court should focus on continuing her rehabilitation rather than a harsh punishment.
On December 15, 2022, Walker drove into the carpark at Glengarry shopping centre, the court heard.
A witness saw her put a white bag under the bushes before another person picked it up.
The defendant chased them and snatched it back.
When the police searched her vehicle they discovered two bags of methamphetamine — one 112.4g bag with 55% purity and another 73.7g with 72% purity.
Police said that amount of the drug would have a street value between $19,800 and $66,000.
Found in Walker’s car was $20,000 cash, and unexplained transfers and deposits to her bank totalled almost $130,000.
Judge Russell Walker commended the defendant for her extensive and successful rehab efforts.
"For the first time, you appear to have taken a new direction," he said.
"You need to build on that base that you’ve developed over the past 14 months."
In High Court proceedings, Justice Lisa Preston made a restraining order in relation to the cash found in the defendant’s car.
It is understood police intend to seek forfeiture of the money and the value of the drugs found.
