Queenstown trip ‘dream’ for Sonya

COURT REPORTERS

A SITTING District Court judge said Queenstown was an ‘‘extremely dangerous place to be’’ after midnight, given the number of people convicted for drinkdriving in the early hours of the morning.

A total of 10 people were convicted for drinkdriving yesterday — at least six were caught after midnight.

They included Bradley John Slater (34), driver, of Arrow Junction, who was stopped by police at 1.15am on Frankton Road on July 26.

Prosecuting sergeant Chris George said Slater was seen by police driving west, weaving in his own lane and ‘‘narrowly avoiding hitting the kerb’’.

A blood test gave a result of 196mg — the legal limit is 50mg.

He offered no explanation to police at the time and yesterday lawyer Tanya Surrey said he still had ‘‘little explanation’’ to provide.

Judge BrandtsGiesen told Slater his level was ‘‘very, very high’’ when fining him $1100, ordering him to pay medical expenses and analyst fees of $111.99 and $130 court costs.

He was also disqualified for 28 days or until such time as an alcohol interlock device is installed.

US tourist convicted

United States tourist Kath erine Elizabeth Hostetler (24) will go home with a conviction after admitting driving with a breathalcohol level of 759mcg on Dungarvon St on September 1.

Police observed Hostetler drive out of a car park at 1.12am and stopped her.

She said she had consumed three glasses of wine and was moving the vehicle, which she had been staying in, to a friend’s driveway for the night.

She was fined $850, ordered to pay court costs of $130 and disqualified for seven months.

Avoiding parking ticket costly

Charles Andrew Pears (24), farmer, of Dunrobin, Southland, also thought he would move his car to avoid a parking ticket at 1.15am, having had about eight beers in Queenstown on July 27.

He was stopped on Isle St — a blood test gave a reading of 138mg.

Judge BrandtsGiesen fined him $800, court costs $130 and ordered him to pay $154.25 medical expenses and analyst fees.

He was also disqualified for six months.

Thomas William Norton (22), bricklayer, of Australia, living in Queenstown, had slept in his car for about an hour before he decided to drive it at 3am on August 11.

Police stopped him on Lake Esplanade — a breath test gave a result of 553mcg.

Judge BrandtsGiesen said if Norton had spent the hour ‘‘jogging around Queenstown’’ he may have lowered his breath alcohol level, fined him $650, ordered him to pay $130 court costs and disqualified him for six months.

Other drinkdriving convictions

Meander Heller (30), of Wanaka, drinkdriving, 495mcg, McDougall St, Wanaka, August 11, fined $600, disqualified six months.

Tom Van Tempel (23), dishwasher, of Belgium, living in Wanaka, drinkdriving, 748mcg, Alison Avenue June 28 at Wanaka, fined $850, court costs $130, disqualified eight months; careless driving, Alison Avenue, Wanaka, June 28, fined $300, court costs $130, reparation $1661.75.

Nicolas Martinez Banino (28), chef of Argentina, living in Queenstown, drinkdriving, 484mcg, Fernhill Rd, August 21 at Queenstown, fined $575, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Oscar O’Neill (19), of Arrowtown, apprentice builder, drinkdriving, 457mcg, Berkshire St, Arrowtown, August 24, fined $550, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Jack Bradley Domah (25), builder, of Fernhill, drink driving, 104mg, Frankton Rd, August 24, fined $620, court costs $130, medical expenses and analyst fees $156.79, disqualified six months.

Timothy Cotsford Burdon (56), of Albert Town, drinkdriving, 132mg, Lakeside Rd, Wanaka, July 14, fined $750, court costs $130, medical expenses and analyst fees $111.99, disqualified six months.

Joshua William Hollows (31), carpenter, of Arrowtown, drinkdriving, 854mcg, Frankton Rd, July 20, fined $1000, disqualified for 28 days or until such time as an alcohol interlock device is fitted; giving false information to police, Queenstown, July 20, convicted and discharged; drinkdriving, 87mg, Colombo St, Christchurch, July 2, fined $150, court costs $130, medical expenses and analyst fees $361.99.

Dangerous attempt

A Wanaka tiler who attempted to overtake a vehicle in a long line of traffic in front of him was ordered to pay emotional harm reparation to the driver of an oncoming vehicle.

Gabriel Francisco Rosa Loblein (25), tiler, originally from Brazil, had previously admitted a charge of dangerous driving on the WanakaLuggate Highway on June 19.

Judge BrandtsGiesen heard Rosa Loblein was driving at the end of a work day when he attempted his overtaking manoeuvre.

A driver in the opposite lane had to take evasive action, he also pulled to the side of the road and it ‘‘ended badly for all concerned’’.

Sgt George submitted an emotional harm reparation was appropriate given it was a ‘‘very narrow squeak’’ for the other driver. Judge BrandtsGiesen told Rosa Loblein New Zealand roads were ‘‘very difficult to drive on’’ and he needed to keep that in mind.

‘‘This accident took place at the end of your shift when you were probably tired and that is never a good time to make decisions about passing vehicles anywhere, let alone on a big, lazy bend in the road.’’

As well as being disqualified for six months, he was ordered to pay $300 to the driver of the other vehicle, $130 court costs and was fined $500.

Damaged doors

Sylek Mikaere (22), of Queenstown, was sentenced to 80 hours’ community work after admitting wilfully damaging doors of a CBD shopping centre and unlawfully being in the building.

Sgt George said Mikaere, who had been drinking, was outside O’Connells on Camp St at 1.06am on July 14 when he shoulderbarged his way through the locked double electronic doors, causing significant damage.

Staff at McDonald’s witnessed the incident and one staff member went to restrain him.

Mikare told police he thought his ‘‘mate was stuck inside’’.

Judge BrandtsGiesen said while Mikaere’s ‘‘list’’ was not a bad one, it was oneandahalf pages long.

‘‘Alcohol is clearly a factor in your life and its something that you need to address.’’

He was also ordered to pay $586.50 reparation — $200 to be paid immediately — and was sentenced to six months’ supervision.

Bar assault

Callum Dane Wilson (22), plumber, of Lake Hawea, was sentenced to 70 hours’ community work and ordered to pay $500 for emotional harm after admitting assaulting Jake Cunningham in Wanaka on July 28.

Judge BrandtsGiesen said the victim inadvertently went into the bathroom at the Lake Bar with his beer, so he placed it on a vanity top.

The defendant then entered the bathroom, and either deliberately or accidentally knocked the glass to the floor. He agreed to buy the victim a beer to replace it, but when they returned to the bar, Wilson reneged on the promise.

When the victim insisted on Wilson buying him a beer, the defendant told him to go back to his friends, but the victim was insistent.

The defendant got angry and put the victim in a headlock before punching him in the head several times. He then elbowed him in the head several times before again punching the victim, who suffered a bleeding nose, swollen face and two black eyes.

Other convictions

Tom Watkin (25), carpenter, of Kelvin Heights, driving while disqualified, Arawata Terrace, August 19 at Queenstown, fined $750, court costs $130, disqualified six months from December 18.

Ryan Alexander Sissons (32), carpenter, of New Plymouth, possession of class Ccontrolled cannabis plant, (29g), August 21, at Queenstown, fined $200, court costs $130; possession of a pipe to smoke cannabis, August 21, at Queenstown, fined $200, court costs $130.

Chaitania LeNoel William Proctor (18), builder, of Speargrass Flat, driving at a dangerous speed (165kmh), Malaghans Rd, August 18 at Arrowtown, fined $850, court costs $130, disqualified eight months.

Carlos Antonio Gimenez Casset (30), chef, Argentinian national, of Queenstown, driving while forbidden, convicted and sentence deferred 12 months.