A 20-year-old English baker who crashed twice on May 21 before being stopped by a lamppost will be sentenced in the Queenstown District Court on July 25.
Mark Cuckson admitted driving with a breath-alcohol level of 1251mcg - more than three times the legal limit - at Ardmore St, reckless driving at Ardmore St and failing to stop following a non-injury accident at Wanaka, all on May 21, before Judge Kevin Phillips yesterday.
Sergeant Ian Collin said Cuckson, a seasonal worker, had been drinking during the day and by 10pm was described as "intoxicated" and "was having difficulty standing".
He was taken home by an associate to "sleep off the alcohol" but at 10.50pm he left the address and began driving an associate's blue Toyota Corolla around Wanaka.
He first hit a car with a boat and trailer attached, parked in a driveway on Hedditch St, damaging the trailer which was shoved into the car. He reversed from the scene and drove off at a "high speed".
Next, he failed to apply brakes while driving down another steep street and crashed into two parked cars outside Bettys Liquor on Ardmore St, damaging one car extensively as it was shunted into the other. Cuckson reversed again and continued driving the Corolla, which had sustained damage and was "smoking", Sgt Collin said.
"He drove away, heading for State Highway 84, when he cut across a grass verge near a roundabout and across the footpath, nearly hitting pedestrians.
"He went back on to the road and ran into a power pole which was knocked to the ground and took out the street lighting."
When police arrived, he was breath-tested but declined a blood test. No injuries were sustained as a result of any of the crashes.
Cuckson stated he had been "drinking all day" and "couldn't remember driving.
Reparation totalling $21,901 is sought.
Judge Phillips entered the conviction and called for a pre-sentence report to address reparation, an alcohol and drug assessment with an appendix addressing home detention.
"[He has pleaded] guilty to very serious matters where he placed himself and other innocent people seriously at risk of death or injury," the judge said.
