Drink driver blames sick grandmother

Whanganui District Court. Photo/file

A man caught drink driving and without a licence told police he was visiting his sick grandmother in Marton.

An hour and a half later, he was caught again and told them he was visiting his sick grandmother in Palmerston North.

Brayden Arthur Watson was stopped by police while driving on Williamsons Line, Marton at 10pm on June 1.

His breath alcohol was 400mcg. The limit for people under 20 years old is 0mcg. Watson is 18.

He was also driving without a licence, a police summary of facts said.

He said he was going to see his sick grandmother in Marton.

Police forbade Watson to drive, but at 11.25pm another patrol stopped him while he was driving on Pukepapa Road, Marton.

His breath level was 342mcg, the summary said.

Watson told police he was on his way to see his sick grandmother in Palmerston North.

He pleaded guilty in the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday to two counts of being over the alcohol limit for a person under 20, and being an unlicensed driver failing to comply .

Judge Patrick Treston called the offending "very cheeky behaviour, quite frankly".

He sentenced Watson to 60 hours of community work and disqualified him from driving for five months.