Teacher who drove five times over limit tells of shame

TAURANGA - A relief teacher caught driving with a blood alcohol level of more than five times the legal limit tearfully told a court of her shame and embarrassment today.

Lisa Rachel Bowers, 39, of Papamoa, was sentenced to 180 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for 12 months when she appeared before community magistrate Robyn Paterson for sentencing in Tauranga District Court.

"Society does not tolerate excess blood alcohol," said Mrs Paterson.

"I believe you hold one of New Zealand's highest records and it is one I am sure you are not proud of."

At her first appearance a month ago, Bowers pleaded guilty to driving at Papamoa on Sunday July 16 about 5pm with a reading of 426 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Bowers' initial breath-alcohol test exceeded the breath-testing machine's maximum limit of 2000 micrograms per litre of breath.

Duty solicitor Glenn Barnett told the court she had expressed a "large degree of remorse".

Until now, Bowers had led a "blameless life," had no previous convictions and entered an early guilty plea.

He said she was considerably motivated to address any issue she had with alcohol and was keen to "move on".

With close cropped blonde hair, and clad in a black suit with a pink shirt, Bowers read an apology to the court in a tremulous voice.

She said she was ashamed and embarrassed about what had happened and grateful no one had been physically hurt.

"I am terribly sorry," Bowers said from the dock, mopping tears with a handkerchief.

She acknowledged "enormous support from the most amazing people" and paid particular tribute to an unnamed woman friend whom she described as her rock.

The community magistrate said supervision had not been recommended in the probation report because Bowers was motivated to do something about her alcohol abuse.

It was her first offence, she was remorseful and was striving to deal with her drinking problem.

Bowers was ordered to pay $193 in medical and analyst fees.

After the hearing, she fled the courthouse through a side door to evade waiting journalists and cameras, and was driven away.

In July, a 47-year-old Dunedin woman was jailed for six weeks after being convicted of driving with the same blood alcohol level as Bowers.

A West Auckland teacher, aged 48, was sentenced in August to 200 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for 18 months after a conviction for being four times over the legal limit.

In Napier, a 66-year-old woman was fined more than $1900 and disqualified for 10 months. She recorded 368mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

- NZPA