Christchurch, Jan 25 NZPA - Jamie Alan Sinclair has admitted drink-driving and unlawfully taking a police patrol car, but may deny a charge of injuring a police officer in the process.

The 22-year-old Bishopdale labourer today pleaded guilty to three of the four charges he is facing in Christchurch District Court, and was fined a total of $1600 and disqualified from driving for eight months.

He did not oppose a police application to confiscate his car, a 1990 Mitsubishi, and Judge Christopher Somerville ordered its forfeiture.

Sinclair admitted charges of driving while his licence was suspended, drink-driving, and unlawfully taking the $40,000 police Holden Commodore.

But the remaining charge -- injuring officer Sarah Larajud with intent to commit the crime of unlawfully taking the car -- is heading for a post-committal conference on March 19.

That is a prelude to a pre-trial conference being held to set a date for a jury trial.

The unlawful taking charge, which Sinclair has admitted, is going to the same date.

Constable Larajud is New Zealand's first openly transgender police officer.

The police said Sinclair was stopped at 10.30pm on January 9 and was belligerent throughout the breath-test procedure that showed he had a level of 687mcg of alcohol to a litre of breath. His licence was suspended and his car keys taken.

They allege the incident with the police car happened when he returned to an alcohol checkpoint on Buchanans Road, Sockburn, a short time later.

It is alleged the officer was dragged and injured as the police vehicle was taken. She was discharged after treatment at Christchurch Hospital for a cut to her head and tissue damage to her leg and ankle.

Paul Norcross appeared as Sinclair's defence counsel.

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