A Northland man has been jailed for 12 months after committing his third drink-driving offence and being warned by a judge he would be locked up if caught breaking the law again.
Kieran Rodney DIACK appeared in the Kaitaia District Court for sentencing on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time and careless driving after his car crashed on Okahu Rd, Kaitaia, at 10pm on February 29.
The 26-year-old was travelling too fast on the road and came off a sharp right-hand bend, sliding through a ditch, across a grass verge, before hitting a timber fence and gates bordering a home.
Diack left the vehicle and started walking home, where he was stopped by police en route.
He initially denied any knowledge of the vehicle, but later admitted he was the driver.
A breath test showed he had a level of 682 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.
Diack told police he was very worried that he would be going to prison as a judge had told him at his last sentencing that prison was inevitable if he was caught drink driving again.
He was sentenced to 12 months' jail and disqualified from driving for 24 months.
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:
John HIKUWAI, 59, fisherman, 501mcg, $1200 fine, disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for fourth drink-driving conviction.
Andrew Edward SHEPHARD, 47, 910mcg, $900 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Alexander Brett MORRIS, 19, 226mcg, 40 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for three months.
Anaru THOMPSON, 23, 599mcg, $550 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Teresa Aroha Caprise ORMSBY, 46, 800mcg, $800 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Bevan Leigh SMITH, 32, 692mcg, six months' community detention, 200 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.
Liquor limits: Aged 20 and above: 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath; 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Under 20: Young drivers with a blood alcohol limit of between 0.00 and 0.03 will receive an infringement fee of $200 and 50 demerit points. Young drivers with a blood alcohol limit over that will continue to be subject to the same drink drive penalties as adults.