A PRETTY DOPEY PLACE TO LIGHT UP

It was not the smartest place to smoke a joint.

In fact, the back of a police truck must rank near the bottom of the
list of discreet lighting-up locations.

But that did not stop unemployed Dunedin man Mark Daniel Patton (21)
from puffing away on some cannabis after being locked in the truck's
prisoner compartment on June 28.

The Dunedin District Court yesterday heard Bryant, who had just been
arrested for possessing two "tinnies" of cannabis, was trying to get
rid of the cannabis to avoid a further possession charge.

The thought of eating it was unappealing, so he smoked it, counsel
Kymberley Beal said.

Soon after, a strong smell of cannabis wafted from the compartment.
When police opened the door, Patton admitted smoking cannabis in the
vehicle, prosecutor Sergeant David Pyper told the court.

Patton, who yesterday admitted possessing cannabis, and smoking
cannabis, was sentenced to 50 hours community work and ordered to pay
court costs of $130 on each charge by Judge Stephen O'Driscoll, who
described his behaviour as "unbelievable".