Man takes rubbish truck for joyride, crashes

Nathan Manning made an unusual choice of vehicle to take for a joyride.

He chose a $25,000 rubbish truck that was working in Victoria Square in central Christchurch about 1.20am on December 2.

The unemployed 20-year-old only managed to drive a short distance before he crashed the truck and when he tried to make a run for it members of the public held him while the police were called.

Police also noticed that he was a disqualified driver -- the more serious sort who have committed at least three previous breaches -- and that he had 0.8g of cannabis in his possession.

He was released after that arrest, and one night a week later he and a co-offender broke into or took a series of cars, eventually abandoning them and taking others.

Manning was challenged and chased by a householder when he tried to take a vehicle in a driveway. Police caught him in another vehicle with his own key in the ignition.

He admitted six charges before Judge Colin Doherty in Christchurch District Court today and was remanded to next week for a probation report and sentence. He did not ask for bail.

- NZPA