Judge deals to recidivist drink drivers

Doing a wheelie at his gate while over the limit earned Craig Sturzaker, 45, a year's supervision and 60 hours community work.

His defence lawyer, Grant Vosseler, told Judge Russell Johnson that Sturzaker felt embarrassed that he behaved the way he did at his age.

Sturzaker was one of a long list of recidivist drunk drivers that appeared for sentencing at the Hawera District Court.

On May 30 Sturzaker had drunk more than he realised and had an urge to let loose in his car on Manawapou Rd, Mr Vosseler said.

Police were attending an incident just up the road.

Sturzaker was found with a blood alcohol reading of 223ml when the legal limit is 80ml.

Convicting him for his fourth drink driving charge, plus a charge of sustained loss of traction, Judge Johnson also ordered Sturzaker to be assessed for alcohol issues and complete programmes as directed. He was disqualified for a year.

Philip Caldwell received his second jail term for drink driving.

The 48-year-old manager from Hawera was jailed for five months for his seventh drink driving and sixth driving while disqualified convictions. He was also convicted and discharged for refusing to give police a breath screening test when he was pulled up on May 20 on Cambria St.

After being arrested Caldwell was breath tested and found to have a reading of 490mg.

Judge Johnson also disqualified him from driving for a year and ordered his car to be confiscated.

A Stratford process worker was sentenced to six months' home detention for his fifth drink driving and ninth driving while disqualified convictions.

On April 23, Eric Joyce, 58, was found on Stratford's Celia St with an excess breath alcohol reading of 1044mcg. The legal limit is 400mcg.

The judge also disqualified him from driving for a year.

Special conditions for four months after home detention include attending assessment and programmes for alcohol and drug issues and not consuming or possessing any alcohol.

Robert Campbell, 51, a machine operator from Auroa, faced his sixth drink driving conviction.

On May 1, on Eltham Rd he was found to have an excess breath alcohol of 656mcg.

Judge Johnson took into account that he had regained his licence for the last 10 years after being disqualified indefinitely for his last conviction in 1991.

He was fined $1000, $130 court costs and disqualified from driving for a year.

- © Fairfax NZ News