Hitchers take over meth ride

stopped him on Waikawa Rd.

Martin showed signs of recent drug use and he failed a compulsory impairment test.

A blood test result showed methamphetamine, MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and diazepam, a relaxant.

In explanation, Martin said he had just returned from a trip overseas and was suffering from jet lag.

Martin was charged with driving under the influence of a drug for his driving on January 6.

Just five weeks earlier, Martin had refused a blood test after more erratic driving, this time on Redwood St, Blenheim.

He was taken to the Blenheim police station where he failed a compulsory impairment test but he refused to give a blood specimen.

Martin admitted refusing a blood sample and driving under the influence at the Blenheim District Court on Monday.

Judge Tony Zohrab said Martin seemed to have a ‘‘pretty significant’’ drug problem.

His lawyer Rob Harrison asked for an alcohol and drug report and a probation report to be completed before sentencing.

Judge Zohrab convicted Martin and remanded him on bail till June 25. He was also ordered not to drive. The cabin of a luxury launch was covered in smashed alcohol bottles when it hit rocks in Picton harbour.

Skipper Craig Anthony Burrell was below deck asleep when the 13-metre luxury Riviera launch Carpe Diem was spotted spinning and drifting near Mabel Island in April last year.

He had left passenger Martin David Peckham in charge, but Peckham had never skippered a boat that size, a police summary of facts said.

Burrell and Peckham, both of Christchurch, appeared at the Blenheim District Court on Tuesday charged with offences under the Maritime Transport Act.

Several members of the public reported the boat to Marlborough Marine Radio about 2pm but noone on the Carpe Diem was answering radio calls.

When Peckham finally called for help about 30 minutes later, two nearby boaties and the harbourmaster went to help.

The boat was grounded on rocks and had significant damage to the hull.

There were smashed alcohol bottles strewn through the cabin, and the men both appeared to be very intoxicated, witnesses said.

The police were called and an officer said the men were so drunk they were incapable of operating the launch.

Both men refused to do a breath test and were too drunk to give a statement, police said.

Carpe Diem had to be towed into the marina.

Peckham was charged with operating a vessel in a manner causing risk of harm to people or property, and Burrell was charged with allowing a person to operate a vessel in a manner causing risk of harm to people or property.

Both men pleaded guilty. Defence lawyer John Holdaway said the men were not drunk but sleep-deprived. ‘‘They had not slept in the last 24 hours, and arrived in Picton and set sail that morning.’’

Burrell and Peckham were ‘‘embarrassed and remorseful’’ for the crash, and grateful for the help they received, he said.

Judge Tony Zohrab questioned why the men would refuse a breath test if they were not drunk.

Judge Zohrab convicted the men and fined Burrell $3000, and Peckham $2625. ‘‘Those are significant fines, but in my view, they are a prudent response to a foolish incident,’’he said.

After the sentencing, harbourmaster Luke Grogan said he hoped other boaties would take notice of the trouble they could get into when alcohol was involved.