Kym Nyenhuis found with 21g meth after police find him unconscious at the wheel of car

A police officer’s son found unconscious at the wheel with a significant meth stash in Smithfield said he relapsed after the tragic death of his friend.

A father who bought bulk methamphetamine on credit gave police more than they bargained for when they found him passed out at the wheel.

Kym Christopher Nyenhuis, 35, is hoping to be out of jail for the birth of his child next year after tragic circumstances caused him to relapse.

The Adelaide District Court on Tuesday heard Nyenhuis, the son of a police officer, was found unconscious in the driver seat on June 7 in Smithfield.

Police found 21g of methamphetamine in his ute, valued between $6500-$7500, as well as scales and empty resealable bags.

The Gawler West father pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.

Kym Christopher Nyenhuis outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards.

Nick Vadasz, for Nyenhuis, told the court his life had been going well after finishing parole for other offences.

However, he then received a phone call from someone concerned about one of his close friends.
When Nyenhuis went to his friend’s house, he found him dead, having committed suicide.

“That set him (on a) downward spiral … it caused him to slip away from his relationship, revert to drug use,” Mr Vadasz said.

The court heard Nyenhuis had purchased the methamphetamine on credit.

“Primarily that was for his own use … he fully accepts that some of it would have been sold, as he had to eventually pay his supplier,” Mr Vadasz said.

“But at the time he was arrested he had no clients lined up, no plans for sale.

“He had obviously been using, not sleeping, living out of the car.”

Mr Vadasz said Nyenhuis lapsed into severe drug use after the breakdown of his first relationship and he was refused contact with his children.

The court heard before then Nyenhuis had been a hard worker and a family man, with a “larrikin or anti-social streak”.

Kym Nyenhuis. Picture: Facebook.

Kym Nyenhuis. Picture Facebook

Mr Vadasz said Nyenhuis had lived in country towns growing up, where his father was the local police officer.

“That seems to have caused Mr Nyenhuis some grief as he was growing up in various schools,” he said.

The court heard Nyenhuis, who had previously worked in the construction industry, had a child due with his partner next year.

“It is Mr Nyenhuis’ hope that he can be in the community at the time of the birth,” Mr Vadasz said.

“It may well be that if it hadn’t been for the tragic death of (his friend), Mr Nyenhuis and his family would not be sitting here today.”

Judge Rauf Soulio will sentence Nyenhuis in July.