Rubbish truck joyride leads to jail

An unemployed 20-year-old who went for a short joyride in a $25,000 rubbish truck in central Christchurch has been jailed for two years and three months.

Nathan Manning crashed the truck after taking it for a brief drive from where it was working in Victoria Square at 1.20am on December 2.

Members of the public caught him while the police were called.

He had pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully taking the vehicle, breaking into or taking other cars, disqualified driving, and possession of cannabis, before his sentencing in the Christchurch District Court.

- NZPA