A man who has been indefinitely disqualified from driving for more than 20 years was almost six times the legal alcohol limit when he was caught behind the wheel in March.
Craig Neil Hitchcox, 55, painter, of Lake Hawea, appeared for sentencing before Judge Tim Black in the Queenstown District Court this week on charges of aggravated drink-driving, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.
A police summary of facts said Hitchcox was indefinitely disqualified after an appearance in the Dunedin District Court in October 2003, where he was also convicted for driving under the influence of drink or drug.
He had earlier been convicted in May 2002 for drink-driving.
About 12.34am on March 2, after a prolonged period of drinking, Hitchcox drove his Mazda Familia on the Hawea-Albert Town road "in a manner likely to cause a collision".
Hitchcox drove in and out of the oncoming, right-hand lane for about 2km and narrowly avoided a collision due to the evasive actions of a witness.
He kept driving on to the Hawea Dam, towards Capell Ave, as police followed.
"The vehicle has continued swerving into the right-hand lane so that the vehicle was on the wrong side of the road.
"Once at the roundabout of Domain Rd and Capell Ave, the defendant continued drifting all over the road, over raised medians and hitting kerbs," the summary said.
An evidential breath test gave a reading of 1474mcg of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 250mcg.
Hitchcox declined to make a statement, but made "partial admissions" to being a disqualified driver, and having consumed alcohol.
Judge Black, who noted it was "a very high level", sentenced Hitchcox to six months’ community detention, with a curfew from 7pm to 6am, and a year of supervision with special conditions.
While he was also disqualified for six months, Judge Black said Hitchcox would need to attend an assessment centre in relation to his indefinite disqualification before he could apply for a licence, and the only one available would be an alcohol interlock licence, which would be in place for a year before a three-year zero-alcohol licence could be applied for.
• Matthew James Soper, 43, quantity surveyor, of Frankton, drink-driving, 690mcg, April 19, Nightcaps, six months’ supervision with special conditions, 80 hours’ community work, disqualified one year and one day.
