Driver reports crashed car stolen

A vineyard worker who wiped out four rows of vines in a high-speed crash won’t be disqualified for another month - so he can work in the vineyards over harvest.

Stuart John Livingstone, 31, was driving a friend home after drinking alcohol at a pub in Picton when he lost control of his Holden Caprice. He was heading south at high speed on Vickerman Rd, east of Blenheim, when he failed to give way at the Swamp Rd intersection, about 11.30pm on February 6.

Livingstone slammed on the brakes, and the car crossed the intersection, drove off the road, hit the edge of a stormwater drain beside the road and smashed into a vineyard. His car destroyed four rows of grapevines before coming to a stop, a police summary said.

Livingstone, and his friend in the passenger seat, were not hurt and climbed out of the vehicle. They decided to leave the scene and went home, and Livingstone later called police, reporting his car stolen. His car was found in the vineyard.

When spoken to by police, Livingstone admitted he was the driver, and said he drank four beers in Picton before driving back to

"His behaviour was more a brain explosion rather than an indication of his character or driving." Lawyer Nick Mckessar

Blenheim. He also admitted he lied when he reported the car stolen, and apologised.

He told police he was not sure of his speed but it was definitely over 100kmh, he said.

Livingstone admitted a charge of dangerous driving at the Blenheim District Court on Monday.

His lawyer Nick Mckessar said his client had already paid $1579 to the vineyard owner to replace the broken vines. Livingstone’s car, worth up to $13,000, had been written off, Mckessar said.

‘‘His behaviour was more a brain explosion rather than an indication of his character or driving,’’ Mckessar said.

Judge Peter Butler convicted Livingstone and fined him $500, and disqualified him from driving for six months, starting April 21.