Joy-riding can be expensive

"Joy-riding suddenly feels less joyful, doesn't it?" a judge told a young man as he stood in the dock at the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

Gary John Watts, 20, a carpetlayer, of Blenheim, was a passenger in a stolen car involved in a 40-kilometre police chase on February 8.

Judge Jill Moss said Watts' decision to get in the car and his inability to say no to his friends had turned sour.

Watts admitted unlawfully getting into a car and was fined $300, and ordered to pay court costs.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said Watts was asked by two friends of his flatmate if he wanted to go for a joy-ride in a black 2008 Holden Commodore, which had been stolen from Nelson the day before. The car was soon involved in a chase along Marlborough roads, ending with road spikes outside the Havelock police station.

Watts ran from the car, but was later found by police.

Teen in trouble

A final warning on a Blenheim teenager's record could not be ignored when he appeared on a raft of charges, Judge Moss said.

She sentenced Samuel James Koroheke, 18, unemployed, to four months jail for three cannabis charges, three bail breaches, an assault with a weapon, converting a car, and possessing instruments to convert a car.

Judge Moss said the assault, which she deemed the most serious of the charges, did not merit a prison sentence on its own, but did when the other charges and her final warning were taken into consideration.

Home or community detention were not an option because Koroheke had "burned his bridges" with his family, she said.

Cannabis charges

Matthew Carl Rickerby, 21, unemployed, was sentenced to 220 hours community work for cultivating cannabis, possession of cannabis, 60 cannabis seeds and utensils to smoke cannabis after he admitted the charges in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

Judge Moss told Rickerby he should see a health provider about the amount of cannabis he used, although she did not sentence him to do that.

"It [cannabis use] can continue and continue, but it always ends badly ... it has long term devastating effects," she said.

"[You need to say] `I can choose to live better than this'."

Police prosecutor sergeant Steve Frost said police searched Rickerby's home about 3pm on February 3, and found eight cannabis plants growing in a vegetable garden.

Two other plants were drying in the laundry and 60 seeds, a bong, and spotting knives were found inside.

Judge Moss also ordered the destruction of the cannabis and utensils.

Lesley Michael Lundt, 21, a factory hand of Blenheim, admitted possession of cannabis, and possession of cannabis utensils, and was sentenced to 200 hours community work.

Anthony Michael Franz, 21, of Blenheim, admitted possession of cannabis, and possession of cannabis utensils, and was sentenced to 80 hours community work.

Harley Robert Hokianga, 24, a vineyard worker, of Blenheim, admitted possession of cannabis, and offensive behaviour, and was sentenced to 40 hours community work.

Extra work forstealing trailer

Trying to sell a stolen trailer to an off-duty police officer earned a Picton mechanic a community work sentence. Anthony John David McKenzie, 23, of Picton, admitted taking the trailer and theft and was sentenced to 140 hours community work.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said McKenzie drove to BP in Picton, about 3am on February 9, and took a trailer, which had been secured with a padlock, and filled it with car batteries and scrap metal from the station. He later sold the scrap metal and batteries, then tried to sell the trailer to the off-duty police officer for $150.

Defence counsel Kent Arnott said McKenzie sold the items because he was low on cash, but admitted his dishonesty.

Driver was drunk

A drunk driver who hit another car in central Blenheim, then drove from the scene, had to stop soon after because of the damage to his own car, according to police.

Leroy Alex Brown, 31, of Blenheim, admitted careless driving, failing to stop and excess breath-alcohol (third or subsequent offence), and will be sentenced on April 11.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said Brown was driving west on Alfred St, about 6pm on New Year's Day, and did not give way, hitting the front of the victim's car and causing it to spin.

Brown drove away, but his car stopped soon after and he walked away.

He was found to have 1131 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

The legal limit is 400mcg.

- The Marlborough Express Last updated 12:01 22/02/2011