Crash driver had no licence

A man who lost control of his car and hit a power pole had been disqualified from driving a month before the crash, the Wanganui District Court has been told.

Rawiri Karmel Hopkins, 19, was convicted of driving while disqualified, careless driving and drink driving.

He was sentenced to 80 hours of community work, ordered to pay $173 for his blood alcohol test and disqualified from driving indefinitely by Judge Dugald Matheson.

On December 2, 2011, Hopkins was disqualified from driving for six months.

However, on January 8, about 1am, he was driving on Seddon St at a time when the road was wet.

He was heading north when he accelerated heavily, causing the car to loose traction and slide sideways.

He lost control of the car and went skidding off the road, up on to the kerb and into a power pole. The car bounced off the pole and came to a stop in the middle of the road.

When police spoke to Hopkins, they noticed he had been drinking and a blood test showed he had a blood alcohol level of 101mg per 100ml of blood.

He told police he had argued with his partner and was going to his friend's house at the time.

Hopkins' counsel Richard Leith said on the night of the accident Hopkins' partner was supposed to be the sober driver, but they argued and broke up that night and he decided to drive elsewhere.

He was remorseful, and knew he should not have done it and put his own life at risk more than anyone else's.

His vehicle had since been de-registered and sold for parts.

Judge Matheson told Hopkins he should know better, having appeared in court a month before the incident.