When Ioane Nofoaiga realised he was too drunk to drive, he stopped the car and fell asleep with the engine running.
But the parking spot — in the middle of a South Dunedin street — understandably raised the suspicions of police, who discovered his breath-alcohol level was four times the legal limit. It was the 47-year-old’s fourth conviction for drink-driving and it had only been four years since his last visit to court.
"I wonder whether you seriously understand the circumstances and situation you’re in," Judge John Strettell said.
"You are on the cusp of imprisonment."
Defence counsel Sophia Thorburn explained the circumstances behind her client’s offending.
Nofoaiga had been drinking with friends, before deciding he wanted to see his son.
He could not call him because his phone battery was flat, so he hit the road.
"On the way the realisation he was too drunk and too tired to drive hit him, so he stopped his car and went to sleep," Ms Thorburn said.
When police found the Toyota in Cutten St at 4.50am, the car was "parked in the middle of the street with the engine running".
"The defendant was asleep at the wheel and police struggled to wake him," a police summary said.
An evidential breath test gave a reading of 1052mcg — more than four times the legal limit.
Nofoaiga pleaded guilty to aggravated drink-driving and driving while forbidden when he appeared in the Dunedin District Court.
Yesterday, his counsel provided a glowing endorsement from his employers at an auto-parts company.
Since the defendant had lost his licence, his supervisor had been driving him to work, she said.
The man wanted to undergo therapy for his alcohol problems.
Judge Strettell sentenced Nofoaiga to four months’ community detention, 175 hours’ community work, nine months’ supervision and a 15-month driving ban.
"Come back and you will go to prison," he warned.
