Oamaru District Court

A HAMPDEN man who turned up at the Oamaru District Court drunk yesterday ahead of sentencing on an alcoholrelated charge was scolded by Judge Joanna Maze for his ‘‘very foolish’’ actions.

Shane William Anderson (48), a fisherman, was sentenced on a charge of drinkdriving.

During Anderson’s appearance, police prosector Sergeant Mike Wingfield, of Dunedin, expressed concerns that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol as he had ‘‘shown signs of intoxication’’ in the courtroom.

When questioned by Judge Maze, Anderson admitted he had been drinking the previous night until about 3am.

Anderson’s charge related to an October 2 incident when he was driving on State Highway 1 at Alma, south of Oamaru.

A police summary of facts said he repeatedly weaved in his lane, crossed the fog line multiple times and veered on to roadside gravel.

After he came close to colliding with the lefthand side of a bridge, Anderson was stopped by police in Itchen St and breathtested, returning a breathalcohol level of 1091mcg.

When spoken to by police, he said he had been awake for 38 hours and had consumed four beers and one whisky.

Addressing Anderson, Judge Maze criticised his decision to drink in the hours leading up to his sentencing.

‘‘It’s a very foolish man that drinks until three o’clock in the morning before being sentenced for an alcoholrelated offence.’’

Anderson was sentenced to six months’ community detention, 12 months’ supervision and disqualified from driving indefinitely.