A West Coast man who infuriated his neighbours by driving around in an old vehicle with three flat tyres and a tyreless left rear wheel has been sentenced to 75 hours' community work.
Nathan Stanley Campbell, 20, of Dunollie, was also disqualified from obtaining a driver's licence for four monthsafter he admitted charges of driving with excess breath-alcohol and driving while forbidden when he appeared in the Greymouth District Court.
In 2011, Campbell had been forbidden from driving until he had obtained a licence but on August 23 last year police again spoke to him after receiving complaints that he had been driving again.
They noticed an old four-wheel-drive vehicle outside his address, with three flat tyres and no tyre at all on the left rear wheel.
Police told Campbell the vehicle was not to be moved until it was brought up to standard, but soon after they left Campbell drove it on a 3km tour of Dunollie, the wheel without a tyre sending sparks flying and gouging the road. After receiving numerous complaints police again returned to Dunollie where they apprehended Campbell and, because he had been drinking, breathalysed him.
Judge Alistair Garland described the incident as "an act of bravado".
"It's no surprise that you did not comply with the authorities. You have a number of convictions for failing to comply with court orders," Judge Garland told Campbell.
