A budding stuntman, who surfed on top of a taxi as it sped over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, has been found guilty of causing a criminal nuisance.
Johnny Kerry Bennett, 26 - better known as "Johnny Danger" - appeared in North Shore District Court in May to deny the charge where his lawyer John Moroney said there was no proof the act put others' safety at risk.
But today Judge Lawrence Hinton found him guilty and had some harsh words for the self-styled adrenalin junkie.
"You posted that footage on the internet where you describe yourself as 'Johnny Danger: entertainer'," he said.
"I have found that your act in climbing out of the window and engaging in this car surfing was a dangerous act, not only to yourself, the passengers and the driver of the vehicle but other members of the public travelling in their vehicles."
The incident, caught on film by one of his mates in the back of the cab, took place early on a Sunday morning after a night of drinking between March and May 2013.
It did not make headlines until August when the video was posted online.
The car-surfing video, which went viral on social media and featured on international news sites, shows Bennett climbing out of the vehicle's passenger-side window and precariously clinging to the Reliable Cabs sign on the roof of the car.
Outside court the 26-year-old said he would take Judge Hinton's decision "on the chin".
"It was done in the moment at the time, but obviously it's not that funny anymore. If you taxi surf, you're a bloody idiot," Bennett said.
However, he was optimistic his dream of becoming a stuntman would be realised in the future and said there were "a few opportunities" coming up in summer.
Bennett also said the incident had resulted in him taking up a new hobby.
"I've actually started surfing . . . on the sea not on the roof of cars."
In coming to his verdict, Judge Hinton said he had considered the defendant's keenness for recognition after the dangerous act.
"I've taken into account your pride in posting on the internet the video footage. Your classification of yourself as a sort of stuntman . . . all that pointed to your recklessness," he said.
"It seems to me self-evident that it was a wholly hazardous act that put others at risk."
Bennett will be back in court in September to be sentenced and he had some final advice for the court.
"Go easy, judge."
