Elder pleads guilty to three drug charges

JOHN SELKIRK/Dominion Post

GUILTY PLEA: Model Millie Elder, daughter of Paul Holmes, has pleaded guilty to three drug charges.
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Millie Elder, the adopted daughter of broadcaster Paul Holmes, has pleaded guilty to three methamphetamine drug charges.
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It was revealed she carried a P pipe in her underwear as she was taken to Auckland Central Police Station on June 17.

Dressed simply in a black coat and jeans and accompanied by her father and mother Hinemoa Elder, she whispered "guilty" three times to charges of allowing a residency to be used for P use, possession of P and possessing an implement for the use of P.

Police did not offer evidence on six other charges which were dropped by Auckland District Court Judge Michael Robinson.

A summary of facts read to the court by Deb Bell for the police said a search warrant was executed on Millie Elder's Ponsonby apartment on June 3. She was not at home. Police found a bag containing cannabis in her wardrobe and a pipe.

Another search warrant was executed at 7.30am on Sunday, June 17 and this time she was there.

A glass P-pipe was found in a cushion along with methamphetamine in a zip-lock bag.

"The pipe was encrusted with residue from recent methamphetamine consumption," Ms Bell told the court.

Two plastic pipes made from Coke and Fanta bottles were found under the sink, and also had residue.

She was taken to the police station and arrested. The arresting officer searched her and another zip-lock bag of P was found in a carry bag that Elder was carrying.

"As the defendant was being physically searched she handed the methamphetamine pipe to the officer conducting the search. It had been concealed near her genitalia."

She denied any knowledge of the material found in her home.

Ms Bell said Elder had no previous convictions.

Justice Bell remanded her on bail for a pre-sentence report on October 26 on the three charges she pleaded guilty too.

"The remaining charges, the police offering no evidence, those charges will be dismissed for want of prosecution," he told the court.

Outside court her lawyer Paul Davison denied the case involved plea bargaining.

"There was no plea bargain, the police offer no evidence on the charges," he told Fairfax Media.

But it is unlikely as a first offender that she would face jail time, although her ability to travel aboard will be severely restricted as most countries require convicted drug offenders to apply for visas.

Few get them.

Possession of a P-pipe can attract a term of up to one year or a fine of $500 while possession attracts six months jail or a fine of $1000.

- © Fairfax NZ News