Judge sends repeat drink drivers to jail

Two recidivist drink drivers caught in separate incidents with nearly four times the legal alcohol limit, including one who led police on an early morning chase through residential areas, have been jailed.

Bryan Corkery, 56, and James Manaena, 24, earlier pleaded guilty and appeared for sentencing in the Whangarei District Court yesterday.

Corkery was sentenced on his eighth drink driving charges, while Manaena appeared on charges of driving at a dangerous speed while disqualified, drink driving and failing to stop.

Judge John McDonald described their driving as "anti social behaviour" and said they were extremely lucky they did not kill anybody on the road.

Corkery blew 950 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath and Manaena's reading was 905mcg.

The legal limit for motorists aged 20 and over was reduced from 400mcg to 250mcg on December 1 last year.

Those with readings between 251mcg and 400mcg are fined rather than convicted.

Manaena told police after he was finally stopped on Second Ave in Whangarei he had consumed 24 alcoholic drinks before getting behind the wheel.

Judge McDonald said Manaena drove off after he was directed to stop by police at a checkpoint on Bank St about 1.55am on January 16.

He turned into Rust Ave and reached speeds of 90km/h before turning into Burger King and Caltex carparks.

Manaena then entered Western Hills' Dr and Second Ave again reaching speeds of 90km/h.

His previous readings were 968mcg in 2010 and 811mcg last year.

Judge McDonald echoed Judge Duncan Harvey's earlier comments, when the latter denied Manaena bail, and said those who drive away from police after being told to stop should expect to go to prison.

Luckily Manaena did not kill anybody as there were people in the Burger King and Caltex carparks at that time of the morning, Judge McDonald said.

Manaena was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment and indefinitely disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver's licence.

Corkery had five beers prior to driving and crashed into another car in Maunu in December last year.

"Somehow the point has to be made to people in Northland that it's not okay to drink and drive," Judge McDonald said.

Corkery was sentenced to 14 months' jail and also indefinitely disqualified. His lawyer, Dave Sayes, said he could not argue against that in light of the high reading and driving fault.