A Blenheim woman drove drunk because she was diabetic and needed to go home to get some sugar, her lawyer says.
Lisa Jo Hodgson, 37, a cleaner, admitted driving with excess breath alcohol third or subsequent and was sentenced to 250 hours' community work, nine months' supervision and disqualified from driving for one year and one day when she appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.
A police summary of facts said Hodgson was stopped by the police after being seen driving erratically on Stephenson St, Blenheim, about 12.10am on December 11. She was found to have 555 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.
Defence counsel Tane Brunt said Hodgson thought she was under the limit and needed to drive home to get sugar because she was diabetic.
Judge Paul Whitehead said Hodgson's explanation was "ludicrous" and she should not be drinking at all if she was a diabetic.
Although she was being sentenced on her fourth drink-driving charge, it was a "pleasing trend downwards" in terms of breath alcohol content. Previous readings had been in the range of 800 to 900mcg, Judge Whitehead said.
Other drink drivers in the Blenheim District Court yesterday:
Nicholas Joel Clark, 22, a fisherman of Picton, eba 642mcg, $600 fine, court costs, disqualified for six months.
Patricia Lynette Troon, 60, a housewife of Blenheim, eba 517mcg third or subsequent, four months' community detention, nine months' supervision, disqualified for two years.
- The Marlborough Express Last updated 12:00 25/01/2011
No comments:
Post a Comment