January 22, 2013

Rehabilitation ordered for high-level drink-driver

By Anne Clarkson

A 54-year-old woman with a life-threatening alcohol addiction was sent to a residential rehabilitation programme in Blenheim for one last chance, in the Christchurch District Court today.

Defence counsel for Lynda Ann Marie Cameron, Ros Burnside, said Cameron had a long history of alcohol problems and had been seriously unwell with her addiction for the last six years. She had been hospitalised many times and was well known to the health authorities.

Ms Burnside said Cameron had lost almost everything and she was probably at rock bottom.

Cameron was being sentenced on two breaches of her home detention sentence, and re-sentenced on two drink driving charges where her levels were 1470mcg and 1910mcg of alcohol to a litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg and a judge had previously commented that the higher rate would have killed most people.

Ms Burnside said Cameron was remanded in prison after her breaches of her home detention sentence as she was very unwell and was a serious risk to herself and the public. She said Cameron had now detoxified and had a full understanding of what was happening in court today.

Judge John Strettell said Cameron had a life threatening illness which she was struggling with.

He sentenced her to three months community detention to be served at St Marks, a Blenheim rehabilitation programme, with a special condition that she undertake and complete the programme. She will have a curfew from 9.30pm to 8am every day.

He cancelled her home detention sentence and released her under intensive supervision for a year.

He said it was the last opportunity for Cameron to address the serious and life threatening disorder.