FAME MAY KEEP TV DRUGGIE OUT OF JAIL

Drug addict and former TV3 newsreader Darren McDonald avoided being sent
straight to jail because of his high profile and the easy availability of
drugs in prison.

McDonald, 36, unemployed, of Panmure in Auckland, was sentenced to eight
months' jail yesterday on two charges relating to the supply of
methamphetamine and Ecstasy.

In the High Court at Auckland, Judge Marion Frater said McDonald, who is
addicted to pure methamphetamine, known as "P", could be on bail for the
next two months or till the Parole Board considered a home detention
application.

"Given your high profile and given the acknowledged availability of drugs
in prison, I'm prepared to accept this as a case where deferment (of
custody) should be accepted," Justice Frater said.

McDonald, well-known from TV3's 6pm news, has admitted smoking "P" ­ which
has been linked to several high-profile crimes ­ up to three times a week.
He claims he occasionally read the news while high, according to publicity
for a Television New Zealand documentary ­ something denied by TV3 news and
current affairs boss Mark Jennings.

ACT NZ justice spokesman Stephen Franks said the sentence was "appalling".
Judges should use the case to send a deterrent message to others.

He said Corrections Department staff should be furious at the sentence
because it implied it was easier to get drugs inside prison than in the
outside world.

Corrections Minister Paul Swain said there was a zero tolerance of drugs
and alcohol in prison. However, he added: "I know of no prison that can
guarantee to be free of drugs."

Defence lawyer Marie Dyhrberg told the court McDonald was an addict whose
denial of his drug problem meant he had lost a great job with good money
and a good life.

"In short he had it all. What is happening today . . . this is what
addiction does."

Other factors contributing to his addiction were the breakup of a five-year
relationship and the fact that his career "was being sidelined".

Ms Dyhrberg requested a non-custodial sentence so he was not immersed in a
prison environment where drugs were readily available and because of the
attention he was likely to get behind bars.

Crown prosecutor David McNaughton said it held a neutral position on the
need for custody but agreed McDonald's high profile would attract attention
in jail.

"To a certain extent the prisoner would be a celebrity prisoner. It's quite
likely he would be the subject of attention."

Justice Frater ordered McDonald to complete a treatment course for drug
addicts once he finished his sentence.

Outside court, McDonald said there was still a long way to go. The term
should be seen as a deterrent, he said.

"I have a great many regrets . . . just don't do drugs, you know."

Asked by reporters what he intended to do, McDonald said: "I'm going home
to have a drink. I'll definitely be talking to my mum. My mother has been
having kittens over this."

He pleaded guilty last month to one charge of conspiring to supply
methamphetamine and another of offering to supply MDMA, also known as
Ecstasy. The charges related to an investigation in late 2001 in which
police recorded conversations between McDonald and Auckland drug dealers
Craig Thompson and his partner Kristen Emmerson.

McDonald was a regular visitor to the pair's Duxton Hotel apartment in
Auckland and had offered to buy drugs for his workmates and friends.

He and Thompson, who has been jailed for 6-1/2 years, developed a text
message system for buying the drugs.

McDonald would arrange the deal by texting the word "Piha" to Thompson.

Piha stood for points of methamphetamine, with one point equivalent to
one-tenth of a gram of the drug.

In December 2001, police found that McDonald had bought six points of
methamphetamine at an average cost of $100 a point.