A Northland driver convicted of his 19th drink drive offence has had his prison sentence increased from two years to two years and six months by the High Court.
After his 18th conviction for an alcohol driving offence in September 2008, Andrew Tawhara was banned from driving indefinitely.
However, that did not stop the 47-year-old driving under the influence on April 22 this year when he was caught drink-driving on the Kerikeri by-pass.
Tawhara did a U-turn and fled after seeing a police road block.
But the police caught up with him.
He was found to have a breath alcohol reading of 613 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, as against a legal limit of 400mcg.
Tawhara slurred his speech and was unsteady on his feet.
His partner and son, who were in the vehicle, were also intoxicated.
Tawhara admitted drink-driving and driving while disqualified.
Justice Paul Heath said that the district court had recorded 19 previous drink-drive convictions, though his calculation was 18.
Tawhara had notched up five since 2005, the previous four resulting in imprisonment.
He also had 34 convictions for driving while disqualified.
In the district court at Kaikohe, Judge Keith de Ridder said that the two offences were "inextricably linked" and ruled that concurrent sentences were justified.
But Justice Heath agreed with the Crown that a cumulative sentence for both offences was required.
He said that the two-year sentence was manifestly inadequate.
The offending fell within the category of "worst of its type" because of its recidivist nature.
Justice Heath said that the lowest sentence he could impose was two years and six months.
The Crown had argued that by not accumulating the sentences for drink-driving and driving while disqualified, the two year sentence imposed in the district court was manifestly inadequate.
