Boy (10) drove his drunk Dad into town, Court hears

Source: Irish Times

The Father pleaded guilty to getting his son to drive him into town

A father in New Zealand has admitted to getting his 10-year-old son to sober drive him into town, and it wasn't a one off incident, a court has been told.

Police in Taranaki, New Plymouth came across the Man's vehicle parked outside a pub at around 12.05am on Sunday, June 3.

They had approached the car after seeing it pull up and park at an angle in a parallel bay, and partially block the lane.

And were shocked when they discovered a 10-year-old boy at the wheel. A 33-year-old was in the passenger seat and showed signs of intoxication,  it was then revealed he was the youngster's father.

The man, who can not be named in order to protect the identity of his son, told police the boy had driven from their home into a city bar, an approximate 4.5 kilometre journey.

According to the summary of facts, the defendant said: "he had his son driving as he was the sober driver and had driven for him on numerous occasions."

Going before a Court, he pleaded guilty to a single charge of ill treatment/neglect of a person aged under 18 years.

The Man is due to reappear in the coming months.