A Ranfurly septuagenarian has accumulated his ninth drink-driving conviction, but avoided another stint in prison.
Beckett, a labourer, was randomly stopped in Pery St in the Central Otago town on February 26.A breath-alcohol test gave a result of 600mcg.
Counsel Jacinta Grant said Beckett had already served jail time for drink-driving, in 2013 and 2016, but asked for a "merciful" sentence on the basis of his age, the moderate alcohol level involved in his latest offending and the fact there had been no driving fault.
He had never received a rehabilitative sentence for drink-driving, but instead had gone from paying fines to prison time, Ms Grant said.
Judge Smith said Beckett had told his pre-sentence report writer he had been "foolish" to drive.
She convicted him of aggravated drink-driving, and from a starting point of 20 months’ imprisonment, made a 25% deduction for his guilty plea to 15 months.
That was converted to seven months’ home detention to a Masterton address.
He was disqualified from driving for 17 months and must pay court costs of $130.
