Car-flip teen had lost licence

A teenage drink-driver who crashed on a rural road east of Cambridge, injuring his passenger, had been disqualified from driving a day earlier.

Nathan Joseph Gilbert, 19, of Cambridge, was sentenced on Monday in the Hamilton District Court to a term of four months' home detention and 100 hours' community work.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to driving while suspended, careless driving, and driving with an excess breath alcohol level causing injury.

He was also disqualified from driving for one year and one day.

On February 24 this year, Gilbert was travelling east on Buckland Rd when he lost control on a bend, hit a bank verge and overturned.

Gilbert's passenger, who was treated by emergency services, suffered a broken right collar bone and abrasions to his left leg in the crash.

Gilbert was breath-tested and blew 547 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

The legal limit is 400.

In explanation, Gilbert said he had been drinking before the crash.

He admitted to being a disqualified driver.

In sentencing, Judge Glen Marshall noted Gilbert's previous convictions in 2008 and 2009 for careless driving and driving while disqualified.

However, the judge also acknowledged Gilbert's early guilty pleas and said the court could stop short of imposing jail.

Gilbert was order to complete a drug and alcohol assessment.

Defence counsel Gerard Walsh said positive developments were starting to happen in Gilbert's life.

- © Fairfax NZ News