Woman tried to walk off with dope

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Melissa Ann Lambert

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A Blenheim woman was caught walking away from her house with two supermarket bags of cannabis when police arrived at the property, a judge says.

In the Blenheim District Court yesterday, Melissa Ann Lambert, 28, of Blenheim, was sentenced to two months' community detention and nine months' supervision to complete drug and alcohol counselling after admitting charges of cultivating cannabis and possessing equipment to grow the drug.

Judge Denys Barry said when police arrived at Lambert's house on May 17 last year, she was stopped trying to leave the property with 1.8 kilograms of cannabis in two supermarket bags.

Police also found 1kg of cannabis leaf in the garage of the property along with equipment for growing the drug indoors. Behind the garage, they found a garden containing the stumps of three cannabis plants, and found photos on a cellphone of Lambert's partner, Shaun Satherley, posing next to the plants, Judge Barry said.

He accepted the cannabis was for personal use, although it was a large amount for that, he said. Lambert had previous drug convictions, including one each for possessing cannabis, methamphetamine and drug utensils from 2007, he said.

Lambert was a mother of two, he said. She was supported in court by a group of five supporters.

- The Marlborough Express