Tauranga man caught drink-driving after stealing pizza delivery vehicle

Thomas William Habgood took off with a pizza delivery vehicle. Photo / File

A Tauranga man who told police he "does stupid stuff" when he drank alcohol has been caught drink-driving for the fourth time after stealing a Domino's Pizza delivery worker's vehicle.

Thomas William Habgood, 27, appeared in the Tauranga District Court before Judge Thomas Ingram yesterday, pleading guilty to three charges including one each of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, and driving with excess breath alcohol - a third or subsequent offence.

The latter charge attracts a maximum penalty of two years' prison and the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle charge is a seven-year imprisonable offence.

The charges relate to an incident in February this year.

Habgood has three previous convictions for drink driving offences, the court heard.

On February 25, 2018, he was at his Tauranga home after earlier being out with family members and he had consumed alcohol, the police summary of facts stated.

About 9.40pm, a Domino's Pizza worker was making a delivery and parked his vehicle in the driveway which Habgood shared with neighbouring properties.

On seeing the unoccupied vehicle still running with the keys in the ignition, Habgood got into the driver's seat and drove away.

The vehicle was observed on CCTV heading through the Brookfield area, and a short time later was found by police abandoned on 12th Avenue.

The pizza delivery sign had been removed from the roof of the vehicle.

About 10.15pm that night, Habgood returned to the vehicle and initially told police he had been a passenger in the car before admitting to being the driver and stealing it.

A small bag containing less than one gram of methamphetamine was found in his pocket.

Habgood confirmed he had been drinking, and a breath screening test revealed
he had been driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 678 micrograms.

The adult legal limit is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

The summary said, in explanation, Habgood told police he had "acted like an idiot" and does "stupid stuff" when he has been drinking, and took fully responsibility for his actions.

Judge Thomas Ingram remanded Habgood on bail for restorative justice meeting referral and sentencing on May 17.