Alcoholic: Send me to prison

A self-confessed alcoholic has asked to be sent to jail.

A self-confessed alcoholic on her ninth drink-driving charge asked a Rotorua judge to send her to jail.

Fiona Johnson, 43, got her wish yesterday when she was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, after earlier admitting drink-driving and driving while disqualified.

Johnson had eight previous drink-driving and 11 previous driving while disqualified convictions.

Defence lawyer Douglas Hall told Rotorua District Court Johnson had spent the past six weeks in custody, during which time she had had time to reflect.

It was the first time she had confronted and acknowledged her alcoholism, he said.

"She admits she is an alcoholic.

"She says it's a good thing she's been in custody [because it's] enforced sobriety."

Mr Hall said Johnson wanted to deal with her alcoholism and accepted jail would be the best place to do that.

Judge James Weir said Johnson's latest reading was more than twice the legal limit and her alcohol readings had always been "really, really high".

"You are an accident waiting to happen," he told her.

He referred to another case in Hamilton yesterday when a drink driver was jailed for four years after killing another motorist.

"Members of the public are lucky you haven't had an accident and killed someone," he said.

The judge referred to a letter of remorse from Johnson and complimented her for acknowledging she needed help.

Johnson was also disqualified from driving indefinitely.