Couple arrested over X-rated love at church

The couple were spotted in a compromising position by a church member. They'd finished when police arrived - but a search of their car revealed much more. Photo / Thinkstock

An amorous couple got more than they bargained for when police turned up to investigate their x-rated antics outside a Northland church.

In a very public display of affection, the couple chose to express their physical love for each other in a car outside the Rhema Family Church in Whangarei about 5.30pm on Sunday.

Whangarei police Senior Sergeant Graham Povey said the couple were spotted by a shocked churchgoer who contacted police.

Officers called to the scene said the couple had just finished their show of love as they arrived.

Police discovered the number plates on the vehicle were stolen. When questioned the man allegedly gave false details but officers quickly identified his true name.

Mr Povey said the car had been stolen during a burglary at a Browns Bay home in Auckland last week.

A search of the car then turned up a significant amount of methamphetamine and utensils to consume the Class A drug. And the news got even worse for the man when police discovered he had 17 warrants out for his arrest.

A 25-year-old woman from Whangarei faces a charge of possessing utensils for drugs and a 35-year-old man of no fixed abode has been charged with unlawfully taking a vehicle, burglary, possession of methamphetamine and possession of utensils for drugs.

They were to appear in Whangarei District Court this week.

Dave Coyne, Senior Pastor at Rhema Family Church, said the congregation member who discovered the pair had turned up early on Sunday, well before the service had started, and called police straight away.

Fortunately this meant that no children or other congregation members saw the display.

Mr Coyne said that from time to time, people parked in the church's large property, many of them to have lunch.

"We don't mind that, but this situation was definitely not wanted at all," he said.