Woman kidnapped teens over cannabis

the truth’’ out of him. She told him to go outside and get in her car, which he did out of fear, the summary said.

The boy took them to the home of a 17-year-old, who they also told to get in the car.

After the boys were no help, they took the 17-year-old home, before taking the 14-year-old back to the defendant’s house, demanding he show them how he broke in. Eventually they took him home.

The woman was charged with two counts of kidnapping. She admitted the charges and appeared for sentencing at the Blenheim District Court on Tuesday.

Her alleged accomplice pleaded not guilty to the joint charges and elected trial by jury, and would appear for a callover in March.

The woman’s lawyer Rob Harrison said his client was ‘‘sorry and shameful for what she did’’ and was committed to rehabilitation.

Judge Denys Barry said the woman’s ‘‘concerted interrogation’’ of a ‘‘young and entirely vulnerable’’ victim ‘‘carries the hallmarks of some kind of vigilantism’’.

Her use of drugs was linked with her ‘‘personal fragility’’, Judge Barry said. ‘‘And that’s part of what drove her to recover the stuff taken.’’

Judge Barry sentenced the woman to six months’ community detention.