Failed breathalyser test in Dunedin police car park

A POLICE employee has been convicted of drinkdriving after he was breathalysed in the Dunedin central station car park.

Stephen George Bell (59), a police exhibits officer, drove to his Great King St workplace at 9pm on April 16 after an argument with his wife.

The defendant told colleagues he was ‘‘looking for help’’.

Instead he failed a breath test before opting to give a blood sample, analysis of which produced a reading of 178mg — more than three times the legal limit.

Bell was referred to in court by his counsel Brian Kilkelly as ‘‘a public servant’’ and police prosecutor Sergeant Chris George did not raise his status as a nonsworn employee.

On court documents, there is a section for a defendant’s occupation.

Bell’s charge sheets were blank in that area.

The Otago Daily Times contacted police to ask why that was the case, but a spokeswoman said noone from the Southern District was available to comment.

She confirmed Bell was a nonsworn employee but said they could not discuss anything further ‘‘for privacy reasons’’.

Mr Kilkelly highlighted his client’s unblemished criminal record and said the man had driven to the police station ‘‘seeking some advice’’.

He called it ‘‘a brain fade’’.

Bell had been in the same job for 25 years, the court heard.

‘‘He has a long record of community service and takes this matter very seriously,’’ Mr Kilkelly said.

Judge Kevin Phillips said Bell’s job should have made him more cognisant than most about the potential perils of drinkdriving.

‘‘You should be aware of alcohol and its dangers and yet you get behind the wheel of a car after consuming a large amount of alcohol . . . and drive,’’ he said.

‘‘You’ve let yourself down; you’ve let your family down and the community down.’’

Bell was fined $700, ordered to pay court costs of $130 and reparation for blood analyst’s fees of $291.

He was banned from driving for seven months and the owner of the Mazda he was driving will receive a letter warning that if the vehicle is used for such an offence in future, it will be forfeited to the Crown.

Bell’s supporters wept outside court.

He refused to comment on the incident.