Drink driver did not secure children

A Kaikohe repeat drink driver had two small children in his car without seatbelts on when he was stopped by police before being convicted of drink driving for the fifth time.

Karl GREENING, 45, appeared in Kaikohe District Court for sentencing on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time after being stopped on Raihara St, Kaikohe, at 3.15pm on December 9.

Police noticed that Greening's front-seat passenger was not wearing a seat belt so pulled the car over to issue him with a ticket.

But when they stopped him, officers saw two small children, both aged under 5, who were also unrestrained in the back of the car.

A breath test revealed a level of 604 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg. In explanation, Greening told police he knew that he was over the limit, but had to get his passengers back to where they were staying.

He was sentenced to six months' community detention, 150 hours' community work, nine months' supervision and disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for his fifth drink driving conviction.

Northland has some of the highest rates of drink-driving in the country, particularly repeat offenders, and the Northern Advocate is publishing its "name-and-shame" list of all people convicted of drink driving offences in the region. Also sentenced in Northland's courts recently were:

Pauline Elizabeth DUFF, 26, 556mcg, seven months' home detention for fifth drink driving conviction.

Stuart FREDRICKSON, 28, 459mcg, 100 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for third drink driving conviction.

James Robert HENRY, 25, painter, 480mcg, $500 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Darry William CAPLIN, 23, 543mcg, $550 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Joe NGAWHIKA, 51, 618mcg, $600 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.