Queenstown District Court

A MAN appearing for his fifth drinkdriving conviction and two others with breathalcohol levels more than four times the legal limit were among 12 drinkdrivers dealt with in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.

Two defendants, Buddy Edwards (25) and Josie Elinore Kydd (23), also admitted careless driving charges as well as drinkdriving.

Edwards, a chef, of Fernhill, was charged after a crash on the GlenorchyQueenstown Rd at 5.30am on June 13.

Prosecuting Sergeant Ian Collin said Edwards was driving north with one passenger when she lost control of her car on gravel on a corner.

The vehicle crossed into the southbound lane, then back into the northbound lane, left the road and came to rest about 10m down a steep bank.

Neither she nor her passenger were injured.

A breath test gave a reading of 600mcg.

Sgt Collin said Edwards was ‘‘lucky’’ the court was not dealing with anything more serious in terms of injuries or charges.

Lawyer Tanya Surrey said it was an ‘‘error of judgement’’ on Edwards’ part — she thought her partner was unable to drive ‘‘given his alcohol consumption’’.

Judge Russell told her she was ‘‘lucky to be alive’’.

‘‘You need to learn from this and never want to do anything like this, ever again,’’ he said.

For drinkdriving she was fined $600 and ordered to pay $130 court costs, and for careless driving she was fined $400.

She was also disqualified for eight months.

Kydd was fined $950 for driving with a bloodalcohol level of 173mg on May 21 on State Highway 6 at Gibbston, and another $400 for careless driving.

Sgt Collin said Kydd was ‘‘nodding off, by her own admission’’ when travelling towards Queenstown at 7.10pm.

Her vehicle ‘‘dropped into gravel’’ on the left side of the road before she overcorrected, crossed two lanes and ended up in a ditch on the other side of the road.

She was taken to hospital where a blood sample was taken.

Sgt Collin said Kydd admitted she was tired and had consumed two beers at a premises on her journey between Blenheim and Queenstown.

Judge Russell said she made a ‘‘very bad decision’’ and was a danger to herself and other road users.

‘‘[It is] fortunate you were not hurt and fortunately noone else was hurt — that’s only by good luck, not good management on your part.’’

Kydd was disqualified for eight months and also ordered to pay $130 court costs.

A Robert Mathew Burhenne (41), glazier, of Queenstown, was told if he appeared before the court on another drinkdriving charge he was likely to go to prison.

Burhenne admitted driving with a bloodalcohol level of 180mg on Robins Rd on January 5.

It was his fifth drinkdriving conviction.

He told police when he was stopped he had been ‘‘drinking a bit over the last few days.’’

Judge Russell said Burhenne had two convictions for drinkdriving in 2001, with levels of 1104mcg and 1253mcg; one in 1997 (1184mcg); and one in 1994 (188mg).

‘‘You have been seriously intoxicated on each and every occasion that you have been stopped driving.

‘‘With your driving history and with that level of alcohol in your system [on January 5] you should have been nowhere near the wheel.

‘‘You were a menace not only to yourself, but anyone else who was on the road at the time.’’

Judge Russell said the ‘‘only thing’’ that stopped him imposing a more severe sentence was the 17 years since Burhenne’s last conviction. He was sentenced to six months’ community detention with a daily curfew from 7pm to 5am and nine month’s supervision, with special conditions; fined $1800; disqualified for 13 months and ordered to pay analyst and medical fees of $154.25.

A Ross Duncan Campbell (47), of Arthurs Point, told police he had consumed ‘‘a couple of beers’’ after being stopped at 2.10am on Robins Rd on May 27.

A breath test gave a reading of 1101mcg — the legal limit is 250mcg.

Lawyer Louise Denton said Campbell had been watching rugby in Queenstown and made the ‘‘stupid decision’’ to drive home.

‘‘Other than being intoxicated . . . he can’t offer any explanation and he’s not going to try.’’

Judge Russell said given his level he ‘‘wouldn’t know what day it was’’ and should not have been anywhere near the steering wheel of a vehicle.

He was fined $1200, court costs $130 and disqualified six months.

A Tom Watkin (25), carpenter, of Frankton, was the passenger in a vehicle stopped by police on June 15, the driver of which was processed for drinkdriving.

Watkin then collected his vehicle, drove from Fernhill to Queenstown and parked at Camp St, outside the Queenstown Police Station, to pick his associate up at 2.36am. He too was breathtested and gave a reading of 1047mcg. Ms Surrey said it was ‘‘an extremely foolish decision and he really just wasn’t thinking’’.

Judge Russell said it was ‘‘beyond belief’’ Watkin had driven after his friend had been processed for drinkdriving and fined him $1100, ordered him to pay $130 court costs and disqualified him for six months.

A Campbell John Robertson (20), salesman, of Sunshine Bay, was fined $1000 after he admitted driving with a breathalcohol level of 996mcg on Fernhill Rd on June 15.

Sgt Collin said Robertson fishtailed as he approached a lefthand bend at 1am and kept driving.

He told police he had consumed ‘‘two bottles of Speight’s and half a bottle of red wine at a friend’s house’’.

Ms Surrey said Robertson was remorseful about not walking home but ‘‘it was cold and he thought he was OK to drive’’.

He was also ordered to pay $130 court costs and was disqualified for six months. Queenstown, fined $475, court costs $130, medical expenses and analyst fees $109.25, disqualified six months.

A Aman Marwaha (24), of Frankton, 531mcg, Frankton Rd, June 12 at Queenstown, fined $550, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

A Hayley Jane Liedtke (25), of Queenstown, 600mcg, Lake HaweaAlbert Town Rd, June 8 at Wanaka, fined $600, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

A Elliot Carl Jensen (22), of California, 735mcg, Robins Rd, June 14 at Queenstown, fined $750, court costs $130, disqualified six months.