Repeat drunk driver sent to prison for seven years

A serial drunk driver SASKATOON who now has 14 impaired-driving convictions on his record has made no attempt to get help for his alcoholism, a Saskatoon provincial court judge heard.

Defence lawyer Michael Nolin said Richard Russel Frank may gain some insight into his addiction during his seven-year sentence. A judge imposed the prison term on Wednesday after Frank, 47, pleaded guilty to three impaired-driving charges. Two of the offences happened just four months apart.

In April 2016, Frank was found slumped over his steering wheel after drivers called police about an erratic vehicle near Eighth Street and McKercher Drive. His bloodalcohol level was .310, and there was open liquor in the car, Crown prosecutor Frank Impey said.

Frank was pulled over again in August 2016, this time on Confederation Drive. Court heard there were several empty vodka bottles in his vehicle, and his blood-alcohol level was .290.

The second offence happened a day after Frank appeared in court on the previous charge, Impey told court. In both cases, police charged Frank and then released him.

He was stopped again almost two weeks ago, on June 16, after motorists complained about a driver swerving between lanes on Highway 11. His cupholder contained a coffee cup of alcohol.

The Crown and defence jointly proposed the seven-year sentence, agreeing that Frank’s criminal record for driving-related offences is one of the worst they’ve ever seen.

It includes 11 prior drunk-driving convictions, 18 for driving while disqualified and for dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

“We are lucky that he has not killed anybody yet,” Impey said. bmcadam@postmedia.com