A 55-year-old Dunedin man was being held in police custody last night after a "disgraceful effort" which allegedly involved a drunken joyride in a stolen car around Otago Peninsula, ending in a crash off Highcliff Rd.
Senior Sergeant Jason Guthrie said the man emerged "completely unscathed" from the "written-off" wreck of the stolen vehicle after it crashed off Highcliff Rd, between Karetai and Buskin Rds, about 7.30pm.
The man had helped himself to the parked car, which was left with the keys in the ignition in North Dunedin, near the Botanic Garden, Snr Sgt Guthrie said.
It appeared the man had driven the car to Port Chalmers and back before travelling across to the Peninsula and up to Highcliff.
The man was charged with unlawful taking of a vehicle, driving with an excess breath alcohol level, driving while disqualified, and faces another charge relating to the crash.
