He was ordered to pay reparation of $5846 for damage to the owner of the other vehicles.
Counsel Jonathan Natusch said Griffith was thankful he had not seriously injured himself or anyone else in the accident.
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ADMITTING a seventh drink-drive and that he returned a breath-alcohol reading of 1279 micrograms, Michael John Reardon, 44, was remanded on bail for sentence on January 27.
The judge noted all Reardon’s drink-drive offences involved high alcohol levels. Imprisonment or home detention was likely.
Reardon will be sentenced the same day for possessing cannabis and breaching supervision, which he also admitted.
Junior Turei Akurangi, 37, bushman, pleaded guilty to careless driving for which he was remanded on bail for sentence on March 15. There will be a case review hearing for a charge of unlawfully taking a vehicle, which Akurangi denied.
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A DRINK-driver was apprehended after speeding in excess of a 100kmh limit. Brendan Dale Jones pleaded guilty to two charges AND was remanded on bail for sentence on February 25.
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A WOMAN caught driving at night intoxicated and without headlights said she was going to get bedding for her four children who did not normally live with her.
Maree Eileen Brown, 39, admitted driving with excess blood-alcohol (157mlg) for the third or subsequent time and driving while unlicensed.
She was sentenced to 60 hours community work, 12 months supervision and disqualified from driving for a year and a day. She was also ordered to pay medical and analyst fees of $219 at a rate of $5 weekly and will be subject to a zero-alcohol licence in future.
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GEORGE Peipi, 50, printing worker, admitted driving with excess breath-alcohol (572mcg) for the third or subsequent time, his fourth.
He was sentenced to 60 hours community work and disqualified from driving for a year and a day.
Counsel Tony Robinson sought a fine, saying Peipi could be treated like a first time offender — his three other offences occurred in a cluster in 1994 and 1996.
But the judge rejected the submission, saying it went against the very nature of the offence, which was aggravated by the repetitive nature of it. A fine would not be appropriate.
The judge commended Peipi for having now self-referred to Alcoholics Anonymous, with which he had undertaken to complete a 12-month programme.
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CHARLES William Walsh, 31, forest worker, admitted driving while disqualified for the third or subsequent time – his fourth, the others being in 2014, 2008 and 2007.
He was sentenced to 150 hours community work and disqualified from driving for a year and a day. A letter was sent to the registered owner of the vehicle warning it will be confiscated if Walsh uses it to offend again.
The judge said it was a sad outcome for Walsh, who was just about in a position to regain his licence following a previous indefinite disqualification.
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DARRYL James Nepe, 46, farmhand, pleaded guilty to driving with excess breath-alcohol (577mcg) for the third or subsequent time, his fifth. He was sentenced to 100 hours community work and disqualified from driving for a year and a day.
Counsel Heather Vaughn said Nepe was breath-tested after a routine stop. He was made unemployed by this offending and was now job hunting.
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A WOMAN who breached her zero-alcohol licence was sentenced to 100 hours community work and disqualified from driving for a year and a day.
Sara Louise Andrew, 26, painter, admitted the drink-drive offence. Counsel Leighvi Maynard said Andrew was caught driving with a breath-alcohol level of 400 micrograms, a third drink-drive offence. She chose to drive for a group of friends who she felt were more intoxicated than her.
She understood she could face imprisonment if she similarly re-offended.
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A WAIPIRO Bay man discovered there was a warrant for his arrest after inquiring with Work and Income as to why his benefit was cut off.
Thomas Lee Reardon admitted a breach of bail by failing to appear in court (for which the warrant was issued) on a charge of driving with excess breath-alcohol (507mcg ) for the third or subsequent time, his third.
In court to face the charge, which he admitted, he was sentenced to 120 hours community work, disqualified from driving for a year and a day and will be subject to a zero-alcohol licence in future.
Counsel Leighvi Maynard said there were no aggravating features to the driving.
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