Teen gets violent after losing synthetic cannabis

A Featherston teenager who was high and drunk went on a violent rampage because he thought someone had stolen his synthetic cannabis.

Kaleb Eric Hunt appeared in Masterton District Court yesterday on his 18th birthday and pleaded guilty to wilful damage.

On July 13, just before 6pm, Hunt was with his friends at his home in Featherston and had been drinking alcohol and smoking legal highs.

After becoming angry, over what he believed was missing legal high material, he began kicking and punching things around the house in a rage.

He broke the rear tail light on his mother's car, a Mazda Atenza, causing about $250 worth of damage.

He also broke the glass in a sliding door from the house and a window, at a cost of about $400, kicked a gas heater and stomped on a picture, breaking both.

In explanation he said he had become angry because his legal high material had been stolen and although he did not remember all the things he broke, he admitted breaking the two glass doors and a hallway cabinet.

Defence lawyer Louise Elder said Hunt clearly has issues with drug abuse and violence, with one leading to the other.

Ms Elder suggested the court impose a sentence of supervision, with a provision that Hunt attend family violence counselling.

Judge Jill Moss said the aim of Hunt's sentence was to not see him in court again.

Judge Moss warned Hunt of the health impacts of drugs and alcohol. "When you are drinking or smoking drugs you won't have as many skills to manage yourself," she said.

Judge Moss sentenced Hunt to nine months' supervision and ordered him to attend a family violence programme.

"Don't dish that behaviour up to your mother again.

"She probably works hard for her things," Judge Moss said.