3 Nov 2010

Couple who ran cannabis equipment store avoid jail

3:24 pm on 3 November 2010

A couple arrested during a series of police raids on stores supplying cannabis-growing equipment have avoided a jail sentence.

Jason Vanderveen and Bernadette Watson were involved in an Upper Hutt business, House of Hydro, and on eight occasions Vanderveen supplied equipment and material for the cultivation of cannabis to undercover police officers.

He also sold the class C controlled drug BZP.

Watson sold cannabis-growing equipment on five occasions and sold BZP three times.

In the Wellington District Court on Wednesday, Judge Mike Behrens said there was no evidence that they were to profit from sales of cannabis grown by their customers.

He sentenced Vanderveen to six months' community detention and 150 hours of community work.

Watson was sentenced to four months' community detention and 100 hours of community work.