Firearms charge after man chased group of youths

A 52-year-old Otematata man who allegedly chased a group of youths with a firearm after they set fire to a couch on his driveway will appear in the Oamaru District Court next month.

Oamaru police Detective Warren Duncan said on December 27, a group of youths allegedly went onto the property, pulled a couch from his porch and set it on fire on his driveway.

The youths, who had been drinking, fled the scene when the Otematata man arrived home to find the couch burning.

"When he got home he went out on the street yelling to them to 'get back here and clean it up'," Mr Duncan said.

When they did not return, the man allegedly lost his temper, loaded up a .22 firearm and drove to the park where the youths had fled to.

Between 20 to 30 people, including many children, were in the area and police were very concerned for their safety. No shots were fired and police were able to approach the man, who did not have a firearms license, and "calm him down".

He has been charged with a firearms offence and driving with an excess breath alcohol level.

Police are waiting for blood-alcohol test results.

The youths who set the couch alight are believed to have all been identified and will also be facing consequences, Mr Duncan said.

While they "started the whole event off", Mr Duncan said the 52-year-old reacted badly to the situation, putting the lives of "so many innocent people" in danger.