Doctor granted two-week court reprieve over alleged nautical mishap with police boat

The doctor has been granted a two-week reprieve from court. Photo / File

A doctor who allegedly almost hit a police boat with his yacht multiple times after leading a chase through Auckland harbour has been granted a two-week reprieve from court.

Dr Carl Francis Harmer, 34, an anaesthetist at North Shore Hospital, appeared for sentencing at the Auckland District Court today after pleading guilty to operating a sailing vessel in a dangerous manner and failing to stop for police.

Harmer was the skipper of steel-hulled yacht Amigo when he allegedly led police on a chase around the harbour in April 2014 and aimed his boat towards police boat Deodar II four times.

But the sentencing was put on hold until next month after Judge Heemi Taumaunu said it was not clear whether Harmer intentionally tried to ram the police boat.

He said if the act was deliberate it would make a huge difference in sentencing.

"It's the word 'intentionally' that does affect the gravity of the sentence.

"It's not about the elements, it's about where on the scale of seriousness does this offending fall."

The charge of operating a vessel in a dangerous manner, laid under the Maritime Transport Act, has a maximum penalty of four months in jail.

Defence counsel Philip Rzepecky said a jail sentence would be a serious blow to Harmer's career.

The nautical mishap happened just a week before Harmer was charged with driving over the limit after leaving a party drunk but the doctor avoided conviction last month because of unique circumstances.

Mr Rzepecky was pushing for the nautical charges to be dropped without conviction as well.

"Dr Hamer is amongst the brightest and the best," he said.

"It's the fact that he is amongst people who are in a competitive environment where excellence is worshipped and to proceed through his career having a blemish like this is going to have serious consequences."

Prosecutor Shaurya Malaviya said Harmer either turned his boat towards the police vessel deliberately or his driving was grossly negligent.

The police vessel had to move out of the way four times in order to avoid collision, he said.

The case will return to court on June 4 to see whether a disputed facts hearing is necessary.