Repeat drink driver jailed

A Hamilton man convicted of his sixth drink driving offence was caught behind the wheel more than three times over the legal alcohol limit.

Douglas William Berlips, 48, was sentenced on Thursday, in the Hamilton District Court, to eight months' jail.

He had earlier this year pleaded guilty to driving with excess breath alcohol.

Berlips was also disqualified from driving for two years.

On September 5 this year, about 11.25am, Berlips was travelling on State Highway 1, north of Waiouru, when he was stopped by police and gave a reading of 1448 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

The legal limit is 400.

Police were alerted to Berlips' driving by members of the public.

Berlips told officers he had been drinking and had got behind the wheel after being "kicked out" of his motel room.

Judge Bernard Kendall acknowledged Berlips' early guilty plea and said the defendant was realistic about being sent to jail.

Judge Kendall said home detention was not appropriate because Berlips lived with his partner who herself was a recovering alcoholic.

She had been with Berlips on the morning of his offending.

The judge said Berlips' previous drink driving convictions also involved high alcohol readings.

- © Fairfax NZ News