Teenager gets 'final warning'

A Motueka teenager was yesterday given a final warning and sentenced to 300 hours community work for a raft of crimes and driving offences.

Jahdai Brice Kennard, 18, admitted burglary, assaulting and resisting police, careless driving causing injury, reckless driving, failing to stop, failing to answer bail, and possession of cannabis.

Nelson District Court was told Kennard stole jewellery from a Nelson shop.

He also drove at an estimated 100km/h along Auckland's Karangahape Rd, running red lights and causing pedestrians to avoid his car.

He then drove down Queen St where he was stopped by police but ignored instructions to get out and resisted arrest.

Judge Tony Zohrab said that three weeks later Kennard lost control of a car near Nelson and crashed into a power pole, injuring his passengers.

Kennard had admitted drinking half a bottle of whiskey before the incident.

"If you want to kill yourself that's one thing, but it's a different matter if you want to take other people with you. You showed selfish disregard for other people," the judge said.

He gave Kennard a final warning and sentenced him to 300 hours community work, six months supervision, and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.

- nzpa