A 50-year-old Wanaka resident was sent to Whangarei to live with his mother by Judge John Clapham in the Queenstown District Court yesterday, after admitting his fourth drink-driving offence.
Bruce James Cochrane, of Papua New Guinea, was sentenced to four months' community detention, to be served at his mother's address in Whangarei, because it was not possible to provide an appropriate address for an electronically monitored sentence in Wanaka.
Cochrane, in a wheelchair, admitted drink-driving, with a breath-alcohol level of 747mcg, at Ardmore St on October 22.
Defence counsel Phena Byrne said there were some "personal matters" Cochrane needed to attend to so "he jumped in the vehicle to go home and attend to those".
"He fully appreciates he's putting his liberty at jeopardy.
"He was under some personal stress - after 15 years of living alone ... he had moved into a flatting situation and it had been difficult for him to adjust to.
"He's since left and is now living alone closer to Wanaka township." His last conviction was in 2006, with his sentencing the following year.
A pre-sentence report recommended community detention - with the only appropriate address that of his mother in Whangarei.
However, Judge Clapham contended Cochrane "really should go to prison".
"I'm sentencing his mother and she's not responsible for his drink-driving ... he's 50.
"It really is totally unacceptable.
"That's the person suffering the greatest penalty for you continuing to drink and drive ... it sits very badly with me.
"I feel really bad in sentencing a mother, who must be in her 70s, to look after you."
Cochrane's community detention is to begin on Thursday.
Judge Clapham also disqualified him for one year and one day.
