A man who tried to get through the search station at the entrance to the Christchurch Court House with a loaded pistol in his pants has been granted a home detention sentence.
When police searched 23-year-old Steven Joseph Hickey afterwards they found he also had 4g of methamphetamine, and $1865 in his shoe.
Hickey appeared in the Christchurch District Court for sentence after admitting possession of the pistol, ammunition, and methamphetamine.
Defence counsel Moana Cole said Hickey had made progress with drug rehabilitation since his arrest, and she handed Judge Tom Gilbert letters of support from his father, employer, and counsellor.
Judge Gilbert said Hickey was arrested for unpaid fines on February 17 and when he went to the Court House, the metal detector at the door revealed the .22 calibre revolver pistol in his trouser leg.
The pistol was loaded and also contained one spent round.
The methamphetamine was then found in a search that followed.
“The combination of methamphetamine and a loaded weapon is an unhappy one,” said the judge.
He noted that Hickey was now going to counselling and Narcotics Anonymous. He had been to a four-week rehabilitation course, and had begun work as an apprentice plasterer.
He decided that home detention was appropriate and imposed a six-month sentence at Hickey’s parents’ home in Kaiapoi. The sentence will be followed by six months when special release conditions will apply.
“These are designed to ensure you get the help and support for recovery,” said the judge.
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