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A young man who stole a police vest and breath-tester and pretended to be a policeman stopping cars has been jailed for eight months with leave granted to apply for home detention.
Andrew Brown, 18, a bricklayer of Hamilton, was sentenced in Hamilton District Court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to impersonating a police officer, unauthorised use of a police uniform, burglary, theft, seven charges of wilful damage, four of driving while disqualified and three of giving false details to police.
Judge Melanie Harland said Brown had stolen the vest and breath tester as he left a Hamilton police station on May 19 after being caught driving while disqualified, the Waikato Times reported.
After drinking with friends Brown put on the vest on and began stopping vehicles on Te Rapa Rd.
Defence lawyer Bruce Hesketh said Brown acted the fool to help fit in with people.
But Judge Harland said Brown had to take the consequences of his actions.
Brown was also disqualified from driving for a year.
- NZPA
