Injured thief nabs lethal dose

SHOOT UP:A man who stole enough morphine to kill four people has pleaded guilty to drugs charges in Masterton District Court. PHOTO/ FILE

A CARTERTON man has pleaded guilty to drugs charges after stealing enough morphine to kill four people from the ambulance that was taking him to hospital.

In Masterton District Court on Thursday, Logan Eric Miller entered guilty pleas to one charge of stealing drugs, one charge of possessing drug utensils, one charge of possessing morphine, one charge of stealing medicine and one charge of wilful obstruction.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Jodie Lawrence said that on August 30 the 19-year-old was involved in a single-vehicle crash near Carterton that caused minor injuries to several people.

An ambulance took Miller and three others to hospital.

While Wellington Free Ambulance staff attended to the injured, Miller stole nine vials of morphine and a syringe, Ms Lawrence said.

The ambulance officers made several appeals to Miller to return the morphine.

"Staff said loss of morphine could result in the loss of their jobs ... but he denied all knowledge."

During this time the ambulance was unable to respond to other emergencies.

Police were called and conducted a pat down search, which turned up a cannabis pipe in Miller's pocket.

Miller admitted the pipe was used for smoking cannabis and synthetic drugs.

He was arrested and taken to the police station to be interviewed, where he again denied stealing the morphine.

He was searched again but became uncooperative when a carton of morphine was seen in his underpants.

Ms Lawrence said at this point Miller resisted police and had to be forcibly searched.

He began kicking out at police and had to be restrained.

The rest of the drugs and the syringe were found, with most of the items found concealed in his underpants.

"The drugs were sufficient to kill four people if used," Ms Lawrence said.

Judge Chris Tuohy remanded Miller on bail for sentencing on November 24.