Alexandra District Court

A MAN who crashed his work vehicle while drinkdriving, injuring a friend, ‘‘blotted his copybook in a significant way’’, his lawyer said.

Callum Joseph Inwood (21), builder, of Galloway, admitted causing injury while driving with a breathalcohol level of 735mcg on March 16 at Alexandra.

He appeared before Judge Dominic Flatley in the Alexandra District Court on Tuesday and was sentenced to 250 hours’ community work, six months’ supervision and 13 months’ disqualification.

Counsel Liam Collins said Inwood was a first offender and a hard worker. He had bought his first house. On the day of the offence, the defendant completed a 12hour shift without taking a break for lunch or dinner, before attending a ‘‘shout’’ after work.

The damaged vehicle was worth $20,000 and Inwood had almost paid back that amount.

Prosecutor Sergeant Ian Collin said Inwood hit a barrier near a single lane bridge on Galloway Rd. The vehicle tipped on to its righthand side and slid for 74m.

The passenger in the vehicle received shoulder injuries.

Inwood later told police he believed a tyre on the vehicle went flat.

Judge Flatley wondered why the message about drinkdriving was not getting through.

‘Appalling’ driving history

Richard Kurie (49) had an ‘‘appalling’’ history of drivingrelated convictions, including 38 for driving while disqualified, Judge Flatley said.

Kurie appeared for sentencing on four charges: driving dangerously, and failing to stop for police, on September 30 last year at Hamilton, failing to answer bail at Manukau on September 1 and breaching community work at Manukau on October 6.

Counsel Kieran Tohill said Kurie moved to Central Otago to turn his life around.

Judge Flatley said in the latest incident, the defendant was driving a carload of people, including three children, and failed to stop at a police checkpoint.

He accelerated to evade police and it was estimated he was doing 100kmh in a 50kmh area.

Prison was no deterrent for Kurie and he did not ‘‘find it [jail] difficult’’, the judge said. He hoped the defendant had truly turned his life around.

Kurie was sentenced to a total of 250 hours’ community work, a year’s intensive supervision and disqualified for a year.

Other convictions

Marshall James Penny (19), driller, of Alexandra, theft, assault (Summary Offences) at Alexandra, March 4, total of 120 hours’ community work on both charges, nine months’‘ supervision and $6 reparation.

Dylan William HowJohns (21), of Cromwell, driving while disqualified, Cromwell, March 28, fined $800, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

SarahAnn Dick (45), kitchen hand, of Moa Creek, drinkdriving, 711mcg, May 18, Omakau, fined $750, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Alexander Mclennan Black (22), butcher, of Cromwell, drinkdriving, 519mcg, April 27, Cromwell, fined $550, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Kiri Julia Spain (27), of Alexandra, drinkdriving, 572mcg, May 18, Cromwell, fined $650, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for six months.

Lisa Jane Davies (44), of Tarras, drinkdriving, 659mcg, March 26, Cromwell, fined $700, court costs $130, disqualified six months (driving while forbidden on same date, fined $300).

Brian Douglas Davidson (65), of Ranfurly, drinkdriving, 1012mcg, Ranfurly, fined $1200, court costs $130, disqualified eight months.

Alistair Lloyd Jenkins (29), of Cromwell, drinkdriving, 184mg, April 21, Cromwell, fined $1750, court costs $130, medical and analyst fee $166.47, disqualified 10 months.

Mitchell Thomas Menzies (20), fencer, of Ranfurly, drinkdriving, 871mcg, January 14, Taupo, 200 hours’ community work, 12 months supervision, disqualified 10 months (driving while forbidden, convicted and discharged).

Marice Patricia Waihape (27), shearer, of Alexandra, drinkdriving, 769mcg, March 29, Alexandra, fined $850, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Shannon John Davison-Fitzgibbon (22), of Cromwell, drinkdriving, 1051mcg, December 27, Alexandra, driving while suspended, 100 hours’ community work in total on both charges, nine months supervision, disqualified nine months.

Peter Kawas (25), labourer, of Cromwell, drinkdriving, 507mcg, May 4, Cromwell, disqualified six months. The defendant was a seasonal worker from Vanuatu and because of the conviction, he would lose his job and be sent back to Vanuatu, the court heard. Judge Flatley decided the only penalty would be disqualification.