A Picton man who caused $20,000 worth of damage when he rolled his car while drunk, will pay for less than $3000.
Kelham James Drew, 27, was four times over the legal limit when he was seen speeding and swerving in heavy rain on State Highway 1 before the crash that damaged roading infrastructure.
He had an alcohol reading of 1056 micrograms per litre of breath after he crashed at a bridge in Tuamarina on July 19. The legal limit is 250mcg.
Drew was sentenced at the Blenheim District Court on Monday following his guilty plea in August. He faced charges of dangerous driving, breaching a zero alcohol licence and driving with excess breath alcohol.
His lawyer Kent Arnott said New Zealand Transport Authority sought $20,000 in reparation. It was "unrealistic" Drew would be able to pay that off as he had lost his job.
Arnott said Drew pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and acknowledged there were issues in which he wanted assistance.
The police summary said at midday on July 19, Drew left his Picton home and headed south on State Highway 1.
His parents phoned police as they were concerned about his level of intoxication.
Drew was seen speeding, swerving, crossing the centre lane multiple times and passing dangerously. It was raining heavily at the time.
Drew was travelling too fast for a bend at Tuamarina and lost control of his vehicle hitting the left side barrier.
His car rebounded to the opposite side of the road, smashing into the bridge abutment before rolling on to its roof.
A vehicle travelling in the opposite direction saw Drew crash as they travelled across the bridge, causing them to brake heavily. Another vehicle crashed into the rear of their car.
The two crashes caused traffic to back up along State Highway 1. One person suffered minor injuries in each accident.
Judge David Ruth said he wouldn't put an alcohol interlock in place because Drew's car had been written off after the crash.
Instead, he ordered an indefinite licence disqualification with a minimum disqualification period of 12 months and one day.
Judge Ruth said the pre-sentence report talked about Drew's "seemingly inability" to move on from "this type" of offending.
"Though it says the loss of your car has been some sort of a wake up call for you. You want to get some help and go to rehabilitation."
Judge Ruth said the large amount of reparation sought was "regrettable" considering Drew had lost his employment. He was constrained to impose reparation that could be paid within five years.
He ordered Drew pay $10 a week for five years, totalling to $2600.
"That reparation figure will be a lot less than I would like to have imposed. That doesn't mean the persons out of pocket won't sue you, they may well do."
He also ordered 12 months intensive supervision with the condition that he attend an alcohol and drug assessment and complete any counselling, treatment or programme that is recommended by that assessment. Drew was also sentenced to three months community detention.
Drew was convicted of driving with excess breath alcohol in 2013 and 2018. Following these convictions, he was ordered to have a zero alcohol licence.
