A 12-time drink-driver who got stuck in a bush was so intoxicated he was unable to tell police how many drinks he had consumed, a court has heard.
Gavin Paul Stuart (59) appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday on his sixth disqualified-driving conviction.
The defendant was behind the wheel of his Nissan in Karitane’s Kerr St on June 17 when he turned into a private driveway.
He continued around a paddock but when he tried to make his way back out on to the road, he turned too sharply and his vehicle became entangled in the foliage.
Police attended and found Stuart sitting in the driver’s seat with his hands on the wheel and the keys in the ignition.
He gave a breath-alcohol reading of 1024mcg — more than four times the legal limit.
Stuart accepted he had consumed "too much alcohol" but was unable to quantify the amount, a police summary said.
Counsel Ann Leonard said her client had been selling firewood to supplement his income.
On that day, the defendant had been paid by a client with a bottle of whisky and "the temptation was too great", she said.
"He does appreciate this is really really dangerous behaviour and really wants some assistance."
Ms Leonard said Stuart had been given support in the past and had been to Alcoholics Anonymous sessions but that had fallen away.
Judge David Robinson noted Stuart had been sentenced on a similar matter less than a year ago.
"Public safety considerations are to the fore," he said.
Stuart was assessed as a high risk of reoffending and a high risk of harm to others.
He was jailed for 19 months but leave was granted to convert that to home detention.
Stuart was banned from driving for 20 months with the alcohol-interlock provisions to follow.
