Former Eastern Ward candidate John Coleman has been fined for minor drug possession.
Wellington hospitality personality John Coleman has been fined for having a small amount of cannabis and cannabis resin – often called hashish – in his house.Coleman, 61, of Maupuia, who used to run Hummingbird restaurant on Courtenay Place until last year when his sons took over, had pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of the drugs.
Police withdrew a charge of possession of LSD.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Barney Soutar said Coleman’s home was searched on October 24.
About an ounce of cannabis was found by the bed while some resin was found in a tobacco tin on a table.
Coleman told police he thought it had been there a long time.
Wellington District Court judge Stephen Harrop said they were relatively minor charges.
Coleman had previous convictions for drug offences but the last one was in 2000.
He fined him $500 on the resin charge and convicted and discharged Coleman on the cannabis charge.
Coleman originally had name suppression but did not ask for it to continue today.
Coleman finished 6th behind Rob Goulden in Octobers elections winning 849 votes.
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