Court appearance for alleged ambulance hijacker

A Turangi man has been charged with intimidation after allegedly hijacking a St John ambulance and trying to force the driver to take him to Rotorua.

Adrian Selwyn Otimi, 35, appeared in Taupo District Court yesterday and entered no plea when he was charged with "forcibly hindering", or intimidating, St John ambulance officer Glenn Blackford, the Dominion Post reported.

A man rang St John Ambulance in Tokaanu, neat Turangi, on Sunday, complaining of chest pains. When the ambulance the man was aggressive and ordered Mr Blackford, the sole officer, to drive him to Rotorua.

Mr Blackford stopped the ambulance at Hatepe, 35km north of Turangi, where the man was arrested.

Otimi also faces driving and theft charges from an earlier incident. He was remanded in custody until tomorrow for a mental health report.

- NZPA