Caleb Gregory Adams (23) caused havoc on the road — twice while on bail, the Dunedin District Court heard yesterday — and it was nothing new.
Judge Kevin Phillips outlined the defendant’s demerit history, which was littered with instances of speeding and driving unlicensed vehicles.
He had served suspensions in the past but it had not stopped him.
"The only way to describe you is a menace — a menace to the health and safety of every other road user in your community," the judge said.
Adams came to the attention of police first in December 17 after he drove his Toyota eight times around the Roslyn roundabout, consistently losing traction.
Due to the manner of driving, traffic backed up at the intersection and narrowly missed a collision with the defendant several times as he skidded past.
"The passenger in the vehicle was hanging out the front passenger’s window pulling the fingers at these vehicles as they waited," court documents stated.
Adams was charged with dangerous driving and driving with a sustained loss of traction but was back behind the wheel less than a month later.
Driving his parents’ Nissan in St Leonards Dr on January 14, the man again exhibited extreme recklessness.
Travelling at 100kmh — twice the speed limit in the area — he clipped the kerb on the right side of the road and slammed into a concrete power pole.
The impact caused the pole to fall across the road and the vehicle to be severely damaged.
A breath test gave a result of 716mcg — nearly three times the legal limit.
And still, Adams was not finished.
On May 6, police saw him driving in Union St, Milton, and signalled for him to pull over.
Knowing he was breaching his bail, Adams stopped but then took off at speed when police approached to question him.
The defendant reached speeds of 111kmh as he led officers on a pursuit around the town.
He was eventually arrested at his sister’s home.
"Your conduct is reprehensible," Judge Phillips said.
When interviewed before sentencing, Adams blamed his behaviour on peer pressure and a poor choice in friends.
It did not wash with the judge.
"That’s just absolute rubbish," he said.
Adams was sentenced to three months’ community detention, 180 hours’ community work, 18 months’ disqualification and ordered to pay $6686 for the power pole.
"You come back before the court on driving matters, you’re staring directly down the barrel of a free bus ride to the Otago Corrections Facility," Judge Phillips said.
"It’s as simple as that."
