A first-time drug dealer caught with a stash worth nearly $50,000 says he was swept away by the illicit lifestyle.
The drugs were seized in a police search of his Alexandra address in December last year.
Found in a safe in his home was nearly 113g of ketamine – a dissociative anaesthetic — with an estimated street value of $33,000.
The search also turned up two bags of cannabis with a combined value of up to $12,000, as well as more than 15g of MDMA worth $4772.
Cash, scales and deal bags suggested Holvey was dealing the class B and C substances, and a search of his phone confirmed that.
The defendant offered the drugs over various social media platforms and gave discounts to bulk buyers, the court heard.
Judge David Robinson said though Holvey’s dealing escalated with addiction, there were indications he was motivated initially by profit.
In a pre-sentence report, the defendant admitted that his ego got involved and he enjoyed the income that came with it.
His counsel, Cate Andersen, said her client did not have an easy background and was bullied at school.
She said using and dealing drugs provided him with the social connection he had been deprived of.
"Drug use made people want to spend time with him", she said.
A psychological report provided to the court acknowledged Holvey had had a wake-up call and was doing well in his apprenticeship.
He was sentenced to 11 months’ home detention and 175 hours community work and ordered to forfeit $4685 cash.
The judge said imposing almost the maximum home-detention sentence showed how close he had come to jail time.
ella.scott-fleming@odt.co.nz , PIJF court reporter
