Dire warning for Masterton drink driver

Maxwell Tamati Glengarry, 18, from Masterton, appeared before Judge Chris Tuohy, in Masterton District Court, last week and pleaded guilty to driving with excess breath alcohol.

A young Wairarapa dairy worker convicted of drink-driving was told by a judge he could have killed himself, like other young agricultural workers in the area.

Maxwell Tamati Glengarry, 18, from Masterton, appeared before Judge Chris Tuohy, in Masterton District Court, last week and pleaded guilty to driving with excess breath alcohol.

Judge Tuohy asked Glengarry: "You realise you could have killed yourself; do you know the guys that did kill themselves are from the area you're working?

"You really need to learn, you will die if you drink and drive like that."

On May 29, a former Taratahi agricultural student, Adam King, after drinking, lost control of the car he was driving in Kahutara Rd, Featherston. The vehicle swerved along the road and into a power pole, killing his passenger, Tyler Swinbank, 17, also an agricultural student.

King, 19, recently pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and faces sentencing this month.

On November 9, Glengarry was drinking at Boston on Blair, a Wellington bar.

At about 2am, after having a number of drinks, he decided to drive back to Masterton.

A member of the public noticed Glengarry accelerating and then slowing down, while also drifting within his lane, on State Highway 2, in Upper Hutt and called police.

Police found Glengarry at the top of the Rimutaka Hill, and after smelling alcohol, breath-tested him.

His breath-alcohol test returned a result of 501 mcg of alcohol per litre of breath, over both the youth and adult limits.

Judge Tuohy said Glengarry had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had no previous convictions.

He convicted him and fined him $500, court costs of $130, and sentenced him to six months' supervision.