Jamie Brian Keith Skudder (29), also known as Jamie Brian Keith Fitzgerald, was sentenced in the Oamaru District Court yesterday having earlier pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving causing injury and driving while disqualified.
He was also sentenced on a second charge of driving while disqualified on December 25, on Thames St.
About 10.40pm on October 21, Skudder, who holds a learner driver's licence, was driving an unregistered, unwarranted and illegally modified 1994 Ford Falcon with four passengers, including his sister, on Beach Rd at Kakanui.
He drove through a 50kmh speed limit area at high speed before he lost control of the vehicle, slid across both lanes of the road and smashed through Coast Cafe in Beach Rd.
The building sustained extensive damage as a result of the crash.
All the occupants in the vehicle suffered minor injuries, including Skudder's sister who was treated for a cut face and deep bruising to her left knee.
Skudder was transported to Oamaru Hospital by ambulance, but left before police were able to speak to him.
He presented himself to police the next morning.
When spoken to by police, Skudder said he crashed the vehicle because he was speeding and was an inexperienced driver.
When sentencing Skudder, Judge Joanna Maze said the damage he had caused had had a profound impact on the cafe's owners.
"I think it's fair to say the consequences for them have been devastating financially, as well as emotionally."
He was sentenced to six months' community detention, nine months' supervision, 80 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for 15 months on all charges.
Skudder was not ordered to pay reparation, as he did not have the means to do so, Judge Maze said.
