Prison sentence

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 626, 5 March 1996, Page 12

Prison sentence

Richard Kane Horne, 29, shearer of Raetihi, was given a 2-month prison term when he appeared for sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol (861:1) last month. Court heard how the defendant had parked his newly-purchased car "of which he was very proud" outside a club in Raetihi while he drank inside on 21 January. When he left the club to drive home he had travelled a distance of only 200-300 metres before being stopped by police at 2am and breath tested. In imposing a 2-month term of imprisonment Judge Toomey reminded the defendant that this was his third drink-driving conviction in less than four years and the Court' smain responsibility is to ensure the safety of the public and other road users. A disturbing feature of the three drink-driving offences was the fact that the alcohol readings had got higher each time, the first being in excess of 500:1, the second in excess of 700: 1 with the third reading being 861:1. In addition to the 2-year

jail term the defendant was sentenced to six months supervision and ordered to undertake counselling and treatment as necessary for his alcohol problem. An 18month period of disqualification was also imposed. Counsel: Paul Brown.