Youth set off bomb while on synthetic cannabis

A youth who set off a homemade bomb in a stolen car in an "out of character" act had been using synthetic cannabis around that time, a court has heard.

Gage Alec Raymond Philpott, 19, of Tokoroa, was sentenced in the Rotorua District Court yesterday to six months' home detention after previously pleading guilty to stealing a motor vehicle and arson of that vehicle. He was also ordered to pay $6000 reparation to the car's owner - his mother's ex-partner.

Judge Phillip Cooper said Philpott and an associate stole the Ford Falcon last July using a key which had been left with his mother.

They drove it to a rural area and set it on fire, completely destroying it.

According to the police summary of facts, Philpott told police he'd set off a homemade acetylene bomb in the car for fun.

Judge Cooper said Philpott later told a probation officer he had done it out of revenge for the victim's actions towards his mother.

The judge said at the time of the offending Philpott was smoking a large amount of synthetic cannabis, which he had since given up.

"You led a completely useless lifestyle with drugs featuring large in your life."

He said Philpott had no previous convictions and testimonials indicated his actions were completely out of character.

"People said [there's] been a significant change in your life since you stopped involvement with drugs, particularly synthetic cannabis."

Judge Cooper said home detention rather than prison was appropriate in this case.

He told Philpott he had the ability to turn his life around now he'd given up drugs as he was a "reasonably decent sort of person".

Philpott's home detention conditions include not to possess or consume alcohol, illegal drugs or synthetic cannabis.