Visually impaired man avoids jail for drink-driving

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A man facing jail time for two drink-driving charges — both involving high readings — was instead put on home detention, largely because he had been declared legally blind since the offending.

Selwyn George Te Puni, 57, was ushered into Gisborne District Court this week by his daughter.

He had been caught drink-driving on July 22 last year, with a breath-alcohol level of 1155 micrograms; and then again on October 22 when his reading was 963mcg.

These latest offences were Te Puni’s 15th and 16th for driving while over the legal alcohol level.

Counsel Nicola Wright told the court Te Puni accepted he might be jailed and had come prepared. However, she was hopeful Te Puni’s changed circumstances and steps he had since taken to address his offending might persuade Judge Turitea Bolstad to

step back and impose home detention —

as recommended in a pre-sentence

report.

Mrs Wright said Te Puni was extremely ashamed and remorseful for his behaviour. He had tried to encourage members of his whānau to attend the sentencing, not so much in support of him but to see where alcohol could lead people.

And, he had a “long row to hoe” in terms of adjusting to his new medical status.

Judge Bolstad noted Te Puni’s extensive history of similar convictions — 14 since 1983, the most recent in 2017.

She also noted that these latest offences were in a short time frame and both involved driving fault.

Determining the end sentence, she set a starting point of 20 months imprisonment, uplifting it by two months for Te Puni’s previous relevant convictons.

The judge allowed a full 25 percent for Te Puni’s early guilty pleas and another 20 percent discount for his remorse and personal circumstances.

Alcohol had clearly been a significant issue for Te Puni, to the extent that he had now lost his sight, the judge said.

Given that, it was appropriate to commute the end sentence of 12 months imprisonment to six months home detention with post-detention conditions.

Although moot due to Te Puni’s medical status, a one year, one day, driver disqualification to be followed by zero-alcohol licensing provisions also applied.

Police did not seek confiscation of Te Puni’s vehicle. He had already transferred the ownership to his son.