Prison next time, offender warned

A Wanaka painter with 16 previous driving-related offences, including four for drink-driving, has been sentenced to 10 months' home detention and warned if he offends again he will go to prison.

Todd Craigie (35) had earlier admitted driving with a breath-alcohol level of 560mcg and driving while disqualified on May 9, 2016, at Wanaka; drink-driving (103mg), driving while disqualified, reckless driving, failing to stop and escaping police custody, all on August 20 last year.

The Queenstown District Court heard this week that on May 9 last year Craigie was driving in Wanaka when he was stopped by police.

He failed a breath test and was found to be a disqualified driver.

On August 20, when police were conducting speed checks at Beacon Point Rd, Wanaka, a 50kmh area, Craigie's vehicle was clocked doing 68kmh.

Police attempted to stop his car but Craigie sped off.

A pursuit began and reached a speed of 115kmh but Craigie was still pulling away when police abandoned the pursuit.

Judge Nevin Dawson said Craigie's vehicle had passed a construction area which had a 30kmh speed restriction in place, travelling about 140kmh.

Police later found the vehicle near Penrith Park where it had been crashed into trees. A member of the public told police a male had left the vehicle and headed towards Lake Wanaka.

Craigie was found ''hiding in bushes'', Judge Dawson said.

He was taken to the Wanaka Medical Centre where a blood test returned a level of 103mg.

Craigie was also taken for an X-ray. Police were waiting outside when medical staff asked if they were looking for a man ''who just ran out the door''. Craigie had absconded.

Judge Dawson said Craigie had four previous drink-driving convictions, 12 previous convictions for driving while disqualified, driving while suspended or driving while forbidden, and more than 10 other convictions.

He was sentenced to 10 months' home detention, disqualified for 17 months, fined $500 and ordered to pay $130 court costs.

''If you come back to court on similar charges, you'll be going to prison,'' the judge said.

 

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