Driver joked about swallowing 40 party pills, court told

A Central Otago youth who boasted to police that he had taken 40 party pills before driving has been jailed for six months for a variety of offences.

Daniel James Stronach, 17, a painter, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of a drug when he appeared in Queenstown District Court last month. Stronach also admitted possessing a pipe for using cannabis, operating a vehicle carelessly and driving while suspended.

He was remanded on bail for sentence, but a day later assaulted two men in Balclutha and was arrested and remanded in custody to appear in Dunedin District Court.

Stronach pleaded guilty in court last week to assault and was sentenced to six months' jail on that charge and terms ranging from one to four months on 10 other charges, including driving under the influence of drugs, unlawfully interfering with a motor vehicle and breaching community work.

Stronach's lawyer, John Westgate, told the court Stronach had been joking when he told police he had taken 40 party pills. He had wanted to see if police could prove a charge of driving under the influence of drugs.

Mr Westgate asked Judge Stephen O'Driscoll to give Stronach another chance. He knew his offending arose from drug use and he had decided "no more for me".

Judge O'Driscoll told Stronach he could not behave as he had during the past six or seven months.

He granted Stronach leave to apply for home detention.

- NZPA