'FORGETFUL' DJ ESCAPES CRIMINAL RECORD

An internationally known British DJ caught with the drug Ecstasy at
Auckland Airport has been ordered to pay $1000 but escaped a conviction.

Lisa Dawn Rose-Wyatt, known on the international clubbing circuit as Lisa
Lashes and ranked among the top 20 DJs worldwide, was "profiled" and
searched by Customs officers shortly after she cleared Immigration on
Friday afternoon.

Officers found two pink Ecstasy tablets wrapped in clear film on the
29-year-old, who was in Auckland to perform that night at the Slinky dance
party at the St James Theatre.

She told police that fans were always handing her drugs, which she accepted
to avoid offence and later threw out. She forgot to this time.

Police charged Rose-Wyatt with possessing the class B controlled drug. She
performed at the dance party later that night as planned.

She pleaded guilty in the Manukau District Court yesterday morning where
Judge Stan Thorburn discharged her without conviction after ordering her to
pay $500 to the Salvation Army and another $500 to prosecuting authorities.

The police opposed Rose-Wyatt's discharge without conviction.

But Judge Thorburn said Rose-Wyatt was a performer of some repute who
travelled regularly, and he noted that a conviction could affect her
chances of getting into the United States where she had a regular contract.

Her lawyer, Gary Gotlieb, told Judge Thorburn his client had no previous
convictions and was unaware she was carrying the drugs.

Other visitors who have brought drugs into New Zealand have faced immediate
deportation. In 1993, American singer Chris Whitley was refused entry when
an airport dog sniffed out 1.75g of cannabis, the equivalent of two joints,
in his shoe.

In 1997, American blues trio the Holmes Brothers had their work permits
revoked when they were caught with less than a gram of cocaine and up to 9g
of cannabis at the airport.

However, American billionaire Peter Lewis, was discharged without
conviction in January by Judge David Harvey in the Otahuhu District Court
for importing more than 100g of cannabis. Lewis fought the Herald for eight
months to keep his name secret in New Zealand.