- Joined
- 29 Aug 2007
- Posts
- 28,719
- Location
- Auckland
Back in the early 90’s I was 20/21 years old; I was also in the Army and due to deploy to Norn Iron for 6 months. I invited one of my army friends over to my parents’ house where I stayed when I came home on leave.
I’m not a huge drinker, never have been, back then I also wasn’t very bright and just tried to fit in – very naïve.
After a night out in a neighbouring village, we were walking home and passed a local garage, not a main dealer, just some backstreet repair garage. For some stupid reason I decided it would be a great idea to have a look inside. Once inside there were one or 2 cars and the keys sat in the ignitions. I started opening the garage doors and pushing one of the cars out. Drunk, doors, rolling cars, we soon had the whole neighbourhood twitching the curtains.
I still thought this was a good idea and even though we were less than a mile from home and our beds, I started up the car and beckoned for my mate to jump in. He really didn’t want to, but I pushed and pushed eventually off we both went – driving away from home and into the next town.
Before we got to the town, I started to sober up, wtf are we doing? I got scared, but we were now miles from home, drunk and in a stolen car. I jumped out of the car and started walking home (again!). My mate then jumps into the driver’s seat and said to get in and he would drive back – I did. Not 2 minutes later blue lights flashed behind us and we were nicked.
Subsequent court appearance and my mate is done for Theft of a motor vehicle and Drink driving and was given a huge fine and points; we both also lost our roles we were due to be doing in NI and ended up doing **** duties for 6 months. In court he covered for me, saying he was the only driver whilst I just sat there like a rabbit in the headlights.
My confession is that we are now almost 30 years on from this incident and honestly, I am a very productive member of society, where for the past 10 years I deal with threats to National Security. I have a good job, a great home and family, however, my ‘friend’ was never able to move on from that one night, that one stupid mistake. His criminal record has held him back from ever doing anything but minimum wage jobs. I have never spoken to him since, but every few years I will check his facebook, hoping, something good has happened to him – it hasn’t yet.
I’m not a huge drinker, never have been, back then I also wasn’t very bright and just tried to fit in – very naïve.
After a night out in a neighbouring village, we were walking home and passed a local garage, not a main dealer, just some backstreet repair garage. For some stupid reason I decided it would be a great idea to have a look inside. Once inside there were one or 2 cars and the keys sat in the ignitions. I started opening the garage doors and pushing one of the cars out. Drunk, doors, rolling cars, we soon had the whole neighbourhood twitching the curtains.
I still thought this was a good idea and even though we were less than a mile from home and our beds, I started up the car and beckoned for my mate to jump in. He really didn’t want to, but I pushed and pushed eventually off we both went – driving away from home and into the next town.
Before we got to the town, I started to sober up, wtf are we doing? I got scared, but we were now miles from home, drunk and in a stolen car. I jumped out of the car and started walking home (again!). My mate then jumps into the driver’s seat and said to get in and he would drive back – I did. Not 2 minutes later blue lights flashed behind us and we were nicked.
Subsequent court appearance and my mate is done for Theft of a motor vehicle and Drink driving and was given a huge fine and points; we both also lost our roles we were due to be doing in NI and ended up doing **** duties for 6 months. In court he covered for me, saying he was the only driver whilst I just sat there like a rabbit in the headlights.
My confession is that we are now almost 30 years on from this incident and honestly, I am a very productive member of society, where for the past 10 years I deal with threats to National Security. I have a good job, a great home and family, however, my ‘friend’ was never able to move on from that one night, that one stupid mistake. His criminal record has held him back from ever doing anything but minimum wage jobs. I have never spoken to him since, but every few years I will check his facebook, hoping, something good has happened to him – it hasn’t yet.