Not even a trip to prison could keep a drug dealer away from cannabis, a court has heard.
Jack Newton-Tekahu (20) swallowed eight bags of the class-C drug after his partner discreetly handed them over during a visit at Otago Corrections Facility on October 21.
However, the covert exchange was spotted by a prison guard.
Newton-Tekahu — a shearer from Mataura — managed to vomit up a couple of the packages in his cell and then distribute them among others in his unit.
A third was also brought up but had burst inside the defendant, the Dunedin District Court heard yesterday.
Corrections officers then spent the next couple of days with the unenviable task of "closely monitoring" Newton-Tekahu as the remaining drugs passed through his system.
Subsequent analysis found the cannabis had been mixed with tobacco and the seized contents totalled 5g.
Judge Michael Turner noted the defendant was serving a 22-month sentence for possessing cannabis for supply as well as weapons and driving charges.
Newton-Tekahu’s plight deteriorated further on November 8 when he became frustrated about an unrelated matter.
He rolled up a shower curtain and used the metal clips attached to it to smash two windows inside his cell.
The defendant was immediately moved to another unit and kicked another window until it too cracked.
He told police the desperate bid to smuggle cannabis into the prison was the result of gang pressure which he had then exerted on his partner.
Newton-Tekahu also accepted he had an anger problem.
The court heard yesterday he was due for release next week.
But that date would be pushed back thanks to his offences behind bars.
Judge Turner added a month to Newton-Tekahu’s stay behind bars and ordered him to pay $716 for the damage he caused.
