Prisoner lays claim to Class B drugs

by Sandra Conchie | 12th March 2010

A prisoner doing time for drug-related offences has claimed ownership of a bottle containing 250ml of a Class B drug, which police found in a Maketu man's home during an armed raid in March 2008.

Hugh Tikahu "Dean" Wickliffe, 61, is on trial in Tauranga District Court defending one count of possession of the drug (commonly known as One4B) for supply. The drug, also referred to as GBH and Fantasy, is known to be used in some date-rape situations.

The charge against Wickliffe stems from a police raid at his rented Arawa Ave home on March 8, 2008, which he shared with partner of eight years Dionne Chapman, who is suffering from terminal breast cancer.

During the search police say they found a glass juice bottle with 250ml of the drug in a yellow box in the spare bedroom and in a bag beside the box was a .45 Colt revolver and other drug-related paraphernalia.

Wickliffe's left palm print was lifted from the neck of the juice bottle.

Under questioning from his lawyer Peter Kaye yesterday, Wickliffe told the jury that he had no prior knowledge of the items which his friend Andy Reid found in his car on March 6, 2008, after it had been serviced at local garage.

Wickliffe said towards the end of February 2008 he had loaned his  car to his associate Brian Bowater, who used it to travel to Auckland.

Read more in today's Bay of Plenty Times