A Dunedin woman caught drink-driving three times in six months bit another motorist who tried to thwart her dangerous rampage, a court has heard.
Elizabeth Ann Frazer, 29, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier admitting three drink-driving-related charges and careless driving.
When Frazer was stopped at a police checkpoint in February last year she gave a breath-alcohol reading of 445mcg — nearly twice the legal limit and stated she "had wine with dinner".
The unremarkable arrest stood in sharp contrast to her following transgressions, which became increasingly dramatic.
Frazer next came to the police’s attention in June after an anonymous source had alerted authorities to her precarious state.
Officers found the defendant in the driver’s seat of her white Toyota at the Esplanade.
Frazer claimed not to have been drinking, but when she was asked to undertake a breath test she refused and tried to shut her door.
Police managed to pry it open and a "struggle" ensued as they hauled her off to the patrol car.
At the station, Frazer repeatedly refused to undergo alcohol-testing procedures, the court heard.
Despite her antagonistic behaviour, she was granted bail.
On August 12, in direct contravention of her conditions, Frazer was intoxicated on the road again.
In Cavell St, she was seen driving erratically, scraping the side of a Suzuki as she veered around the road.
Her Toyota ground to a halt 20m down the road as a result of the damage she had caused.
Bystanders who saw Frazer stagger out of the car described her as "visibly stressed, talking nonsensically and smelling of alcohol".
When the defendant attempted to drive away, the owner of the Suzuki opened the door and leaned against her to force her feet away from the pedals.
As Frazer lashed out, punching, kicking and elbowing the victim, a wine bottle rolled out from underneath the driver’s seat, court documents said.
Another good Samaritan removed the Toyota’s keys and put it in park, prompting the defendant to run off.
But it was far from a slick getaway.
"[The victim] saw the defendant run full speed into a parked trailer at one stage and fall over on some grass a few metres up the road," a police summary said.
Frazer bent the victim’s fingers back, bit her and continued to kick out as the woman restrained her until police arrived.
Officers noted the defendant struggled to stand up as they spoke to her and a blood-alcohol test showed why.
Frazer was more than three times the legal limit.
Yesterday, Judge David Robinson said it was surprising to see the bundle of charges as Frazer had no criminal history.
"To see a cluster like this means that something has gone terribly wrong," the judge said.
"You were really severely incapacitated."
He noted Frazer’s life was "falling apart" at the time, but since the offending she had abstained from alcohol use and was regaining stability.
"I appreciate all the things that have been going on in the background, [but] this needs to be the wake-up call for you," Judge Robinson said.
The judge sentenced Frazer to 12 months’ supervision and ordered her to pay $10,000 reparation to the victim.
She was also disqualified from driving for 12 months, which had taken effect from July.
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