Drink-driver avoids prison

A Blenheim man was spared from jail on his fifth drink-driving offence yesterday because it was 13 years since his last conviction.

Peter Robert Stringer, 49, unemployed of Blenheim, also admitted careless driving and was sentenced to five five months' community detention, 120 hours' community work, nine months' supervision, ordered to pay $1630 reparation and disqualified for 15 months.

Judge Richard Russell said the amount of time since Stringer's last drink-driving conviction, in 1997, was the only thing that saved him from jail.

Stringer was very drunk when he drove home about 1.40am on November 14 and approached the roundabout at Alabama Rd and Scott St too quickly, smashing into a fence, the judge said. He recorded an excess breath alcohol (eba) of 1002 micrograms. The legal limit is 400mcg.

Defence counsel Rob Harrison said his client had been celebrating being offered a permanent job as a driver and had "continuous offers" of homebrew.

He and his wife had planned to walk home that night, but for some reason, he decided to drive, Mr Harrison said.

Judge Russell said Stringer was a "danger to himself, his passengers and any other drivers". He could have been jailed.

Other drink-drivers dealt with yesterday were:

Melanie Jane Dunlop, 32, a labourer, of Renwick, had an eba of 486mcg and was sentenced to 50 hours' community work and disqualified for six months.Lauren Olivia Wilson, 27, of Blenheim, 750mcg, third or subsequent offence, will be sentenced on April 22.Chara-Mae Waimaru Stevens, 19, of Blenheim, 691mcg; fined $1000 plus court costs, given six months' supervision and disqualified for 10 months. Alan Tainui Reeves, 48, butcher, of Picton, 1028mcg, third or subsequent offence; given four months' community detention, 150 hours' community work, six months' supervision, disqualified indefinitely and car confiscated.

- The Marlborough Express Last updated 11:44 15/03/2011