Drink driver escapes jail as daughter ill

A Mount Maunganui woman convicted of her seventh drink driving conviction has escaped jail because her adult daughter is mentally ill.

Lesley Sanders, 63, was sentenced at Tauranga District Court on Friday to seven months' home detention on humanitarian grounds, the Bay of Plenty Times reported.

She was also sentenced to 100 hours' community work and lost her licence indefinitely.

She was found to have a breath alcohol level of 953 micrograms, more than double the adult legal limit of 400mcg, after driving away from a petrol station with a bowser still attached to her car.

Sanders had six previous offences dating back to 1984.

- NZPA