Michelle Lisa McVeigh

original article

Mum jailed 10 days out from end of home detention

A Tauranga mother on home detention for cannabis dealing has been jailed for two months after she was caught with a significant amount of dope - 10 days before her sentence was due to finish.

In Tauranga District Court yesterday, Judge Thomas Ingram told Michelle Lisa McVeigh that a prison sentence invariably followed for anyone who breached their home detention sentence in the way she did unless there were exceptional life-threatening circumstances.

McVeigh, 37, who pleaded guilty to a breach of home detention and possession of cannabis, was sentenced to home detention on April 29, which was due to expire on August 28. However, she was caught with almost 44g of cannabis head when police searched her home on August 16.

McVeigh and her 13-year-old daughter were both at home during the search.

Police found a bag with about 25g of cannabis head in a drawer in McVeigh's bedroom. A further 18g and a tinnie was also found inside a bag in the dining room.

Traces of cannabis were also found on a set of scissors and cannabis residue was found inside two coffee containers in the kitchen.

McVeigh had $140 cash in her pocket and the same amount of cash was found stuffed inside a tea container on the bench.

The cash was all in $20 bills - a cannabis tinnie usually sells for $20. Police originally charged McVeigh with possession of cannabis for supply but after a further investigation which included analysing her text messages the charge was reduced to possession.

McVeigh pleaded guilty to the reduced charge and breaching home detention.

Her lawyer Craig Horsley, said his client, who was remanded in custody just over a month ago, realised how foolish she had been not only because of her loss of liberty but the impact on her children who are living with separate caregivers.

She wanted to bring her family back together sooner rather than later, he said.

Judge Ingram said he was mindful of McVeigh's desire to be reunited with her family as quickly as possible but prison had to be the outcome.

"I have tried to make it clear as I can be in this court time after time to people with alcohol and drug convictions not to touch prohibited substances and not to abuse the other conditions of their sentence or be prepared to face the consequences.

Imprisonment must inevitably follow for someone on home detention for drug offending who re-offends in the way you have."

The judge said by imposing two months' prison on McVeigh - effectively a time-served situation - he was taking into account that she had been very near completing her sentence at the time of her offending and was still subject to post detention conditions.