Jesse Daniel Nash, 44, appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week after earlier pleading guilty to two charges of possessing an offensive weapon, dangerous driving, possessing drug utensils, breaching the Medicines Act and driving while incapable.
The court heard that on August 18, Nash was driving an un-registered, un-warranted, hotwired vehicle on Kaikorai Valley Rd.
He had recently been treated for a brain injury and due to his medication he was not medically cleared to leave Dunedin Public Hospital and was not allowed to drive.
Nash was stopped for speeding and when police searched the car they found a stash of weapons and drugs inside.
A ball peen hammer, a crowbar, a meat cleaver, two knives and air rifle ammunition were discovered inside the car.
Inside a medicine container was cannabis and bags containing, Lorazepam, Gabapentin, Ritalin and Viagra.
A further 98 Gabapentin pills were found in another container.
Nash was arrested and later taken back to hospital where a drug test revealed a reading of 5600mg/L for opiates and 2000mg/L for amphetamines - the highest possible reading for that test.
Lorazepam, Ritalin, Morphine, Codeine and Pregabalin were also found in his system.
At the hospital, Nash told the police guard that he had a machete in his bag.
A search confirmed this. He also had a meth pipe and cannabis pipe in his bags.
A week later, Nash was back behind the wheel despite the continued prohibition due to his medical status.
He was allowed to leave the hospital to have a cigarette, but then left in a vehicle before returning about an hour later.
Nash previously made headlines for taking a police car on a 270km joyride in 2020.
He sent a letter to the Otago Daily Times saying it was on his bucket list to steal a helicopter.
In sentencing the defendant this week, Judge David Robinson took into account a letter Nash had written which the judge said showed some positive signs.
Judge Robinson sentenced Nash to 11 months’ imprisonment, but gave him leave to apply for home detention if a suitable address became available.
The judge ordered the drugs, weapons and drug utensils to be destroyed.
