Repeat drink driver, 82, faces life ban

Carterton man Roger Bruce Gordon Laing, 82, is facing sentence on his fifth drink driving conviction.

A hard of hearing 82-year-old Carterton driver sentenced on his fifth drink driving charge is to be checked by police as to whether he will be able to drive again.

In Masterton District Court yesterday, Judge Barbara Morris ordered police to check if Roger Bruce Gordon Laing was "capable of holding a driving licence" as he couldn't hear in court.

His lawyer James Elliott had to read out his community detention sentence conditions in another room after the judge had dealt with him in the dock.

Laing had previously pleaded guilty to drink driving with a breath alcohol level of 896mcg per litre of breath.

He'd been stopped by police driving on Kokotau Rd in Carterton about 5.30pm on October 25 after several complaints had been received from drivers over his driving. Between the calls and police catching up with Laing, he drove off the road, hitting a road marker, stopping on the grass verge.

He has previous drink driving convictions from 1987, 1995, 1998 and 2002, which were of concern, Judge Morris said.

Mr Elliott said his client had expected to be jailed.

"He thought his liberty was at risk. He understands the consequences if this behaviour continues ... he has had it explained to him ... these are habits over a lifetime."

If Laing were convicted on a further drink driving charge, jail was the only option left to the court, Judge Morris said.

She sentenced Laing to six months' community detention and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.