Ranjith Raghavanpillai, 39, appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week after earlier pleading guilty to drink-driving causing injury.
The court heard that on October 12, the defendant was driving to pick up his wife from work with his 7-year-old daughter in the back.
Just after midnight, the trio were in Goodall St, Mosgiel, making their way home.
Raghavanpillai crashed into a parked ute, shunting it about 5m and causing serious damage to his own vehicle.
When police arrived, the defendant’s wife was on the side of the road in shock.
She was bleeding from her head and fading in and out of consciousness.
A blood test revealed Raghavanpillai had a blood alcohol level of 176mg — more than three times the legal limit of 50mg.
Counsel Brendan Stephenson said the accident had caused ongoing stress and financial pressure for the family.
He highlighted Raghavanpillai had no criminal history in New Zealand, had shown demonstrable remorse and since the crash had abstained from alcohol.
"He’s had to remove himself completely from alcohol because he’s seen the harm it can do," Mr Stephenson said.
Judge Emma Parsons accepted Raghavanpillai and his family had already suffered consequences as a result of the offending.
The defendant had to pay for the damage he caused to the vehicle he hit, buy a new family car and had the stress of the court proceedings.
His shame and remorse was assessed as genuine, she said.
Judge Parsons thanked Raghavanpillai’s wife for coming to court to support him.
She sentenced the defendant to three months’ community detention with a weekend curfew (5.30pm Friday to 5.30am Monday) and nine months’ supervision.
Because of his high alcohol level, Raghavanpillai would be subject to the alcohol interlock provisions
