Drink-driver was racing to ailing mum

A drink-driver was caught when he was racing to be with his mother, who had suffered a heart attack, a court has heard.

Jack Daniel Johnson, 24, was almost five times over the legal limit when police pulled him over on the way to a medical facility in Horowhenua.

It was not said when Johnson was caught, but it was following a heavydrinking session at 2.20am. He had 891 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 250mcg.

In the Levin District Court yesterday, Judge Jim Large disqualified Johnson from driving for 28 days and ordered him to pay $200.

After the disqualification period, Johnson can apply for an interlock licence to travel to work, which he must hold for one year.

An alcohol interlock is a breath-testing device wired into a vehicle’s starting system. Before the vehicle can start, the driver must blow into the device. If any level of alcohol is detected on the driver’s breath, the vehicle won’t start.

Johnson is a road worker on the motorway.

He regretted his actions and allowed the stress get to him the night he heard of his mother’s cardiac arrest, the judge said.

‘‘I accept that you had some pressure in your life . . . but I must impose a sentence that will hold you to account and act as a deterrence to others.’’

Johnson had no previous convictions.