The front airbags in Ogilvy’s car were deployed on impact.
He was taken to Gisborne Hospital where a blood test for alcohol returned a reading of 127mgs.
One of the constables suffered stiffness and soreness to his neck and back. The other had a graze to his face and shin. Neither required ongoing medical treatment.
It was Ogilvy’s second offence for reckless driving and his fourth drink-drive offence.
He pleaded guilty.
Ogilvy said he knew police were coming for him, which was why he intentionally steered into the patrol car.
Judge Warren Cathcart sentenced Ogilvy to two months home detention, with six months standard and special release conditions, and disqualified him from driving for two years.
The judge noted Ogilvy’s numerous prior convictions for driving offences, although his last conviction for drink-driving was 16 years ago.
The other offences included dangerous driving in 1981 and 1983, careless use in 1999 and 2013, and reckless driving causing injury in 2010.
Counsel David Walker said while a psychiatric report showed a recurring theme of alcohol abuse and cannabis use by Ogilvy, he was now trying to address those matters. In January he voluntarily underwent a drug screening test for cannabinoids, which was negative.
At the time of the offence, Ogilvy was experiencing employment issues due to back pain, for which he was on medication, Mr Walker said.
Ogilvy was depressed. He could no longer work in a physical role as he had done since he was 17.
He was admitted to Gisborne Hospital’s mental health unit in the days after the offending.
Ogilvy deeply regretted the incident and had done so since January last year, Mr Walker said.
Judge Cathcart said Ogilvy was a danger to the public.
His statement to the court that he now realised it was “time to get his act together”, was typical of the turnaround statements made by offenders who knew they were at the end of the road in sentencing options and now faced imprisonment.
