May 15, 2013

Nine-time drink-driver's car confiscated

By Anne Clarkson at Nga Hau e Wha marae. A Woodend man caught drunk driving for the ninth time told police he was fine to drive as he had only had seven to eight beers.

Joshua Steve Middleton, 43, had a reading of 944mcg per litre of breath when he was caught driving on April 6.

In the Rangiora District Court held in the Nga Hau e Wha marae today, police asked for a bail condition banning him from driving, and for his car to be confiscated.

Defence counsel John Brandts-Giesen said confiscation would result in severe hardship for Middleton, who had limited physical mobility.

He said there was no bus service from Woodend to Rangiora and Middleton could get other people to drive him if he had the car.

Police told the court that when Middleton was stopped and breath-tested in Woodend he explained that he thought he was fine to drive because he had only had seven or eight beers.

Judge Tony Zohrab said Middleton had a repeat history of driving while drunk and six previous convictions for driving while disqualified, a reckless driving causing injury charge in 2010, and a failing to stop for police charge.

He remanded Middleton on bail for sentencing on June 14, and asked for a pre-sentence report, a drug and alcohol report, and a report to assess the suitability of a home detention sentence.

Judge Zohrab said he was confiscating the car for the protection of the public, and warned Middleton that if he was caught driving while on bail he would be remanded in custody.