Drinker 'finds' 450kg scrap metal

Geoffrey Anthony Knutson, 23, pleaded guilty in Masterton District Court to a charge of receiving stolen property.

I don't know how the goods came into my possession, your honour.

That was the gist of Geoffrey Anthony Knutson's mitigation to charges of receiving stolen property when he appeared in the Masterton District Court before Judge Barbara Morris on Monday. The court heard how he woke up after a heavy night drinking to find 450kg of scrap metal in his car.

He promptly on-sold it to a scrap metal dealer.

The 23-year-old of Masterton pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Garry Wilson said when spoken to by police Knutson said he didn't know how the large amount of scrap metal got into his car as he had been heavily drinking the night before.

"He said he woke up in the morning to find it in his car and he didn't know how it got there," Mr Wilson said. He sold the metal for $108.

Lawyer Frank Minehan said his client had alcohol issues which needed addressing.

Judge Morris sentenced Knutson to 40 hours' community work and nine months' supervision with a special condition to undertake drug and alcohol counselling if his probation officer orders him to do so.

Knutson was also ordered to pay $108 reparation to the owner of the scrap metal.