Dunedin District Court

CAUGHT drinkdriving once, a man here on a work visa did it again.

‘‘You are a guest in our country and abused our laws,’’ Judge Kevin Phillips told Geradus Van Schijndel (30), of the Netherlands. ‘‘You need to consider whether you have an alcohol problem.’’

Before the Dunedin District Court yesterday, Van Schijndel admitted driving with a breathalcohol level of 842mcg, and dangerously, on State Highway 1, on July 17; and driving with a breathalcohol level of 504mcg, at Wanaka, on September 18.

He was convicted, ordered to pay $2390 fines and costs, and disqualified from driving for 10 months.

The money was to be paid immediately. In default there would be 28 days’ imprisonment on the July offending and an additional 56 days for the September offence, the judge said.

Police prosecutor Stewart Sluis said Van Schijndel was driving an associate’s vehicle on State Highway 1, about 9pm on July 17.

The vehicle owner was Van Schijndel’s front seat passenger.

Near Milton, they stopped to ask for directions to Dunedin.

A woman said she was driving that way and they should follow her vehicle, which they did.

Near Allanton, Van Schijndel’s driving became erratic. He crossed the centre line numerous times and also tailgated the woman’s vehicle.

Concerned, the woman pulled over to let him pass.

He stopped in East Taieri township with the rear of his vehicle partly blocking the lane.

The woman stopped behind him and activated her hazard lights to warn approaching motorists.

She confronted him. And, after initially denying having been drinking, he admitted he had.

Police were called. But he drove away.

Police stopped him in Princes St.

Just before 2pm on September 18, Van Schijndel was driving on the Cardrona ski field access road, and gave a positive roadside breathscreening test.

In explanation, he stated he had been having fun skiing all day.

Counsel Jo Turner said Van Schijndel was in New Zealand on a work visa.

The July offending was after a heavy night drinking the night before. A couple of drinks earlier in the day had topped him up.

On September 18 he was driving downhill to the car park at the bottom of the hill. He had thought the road was a private road.

He had been working as a driver ‘‘and is returning to the Netherlands as he cannot work any more’’.

Van Schijndel was fined $800, court costs $130, and disqualified from driving for eight months for the first drinkdrive offence, and fined $300, court costs $130, with a sixmonth disqualification on the associated charge of dangerous driving.

The second drinkdrive matter brought a $900 fine, court costs $130, and 10 months’ disqualification. All three disqualifications are to be concurrent.

Other convictions

Matthew Peter O’Donoghue (31), of Dunedin, breach of protection order (asked cousin to contact his expartner about getting his dog back, ‘‘I’ll stop at nothing to get it back,’’ the defendant wrote), June 8; aggravated drinkdriving, driving while disqualified (seen driving erratically, vehicle not registered or warranted, police found beer bottle in vehicle’s cup holder, O’Donoghue said he was going to get cigarettes and showed no remorse; court heard his last conviction for drinkdriving came a month earlier, Judge Phillips said his attitude smacked of entitlement), 788mcg, 1.53am, June 28, FranktonLadies Mile Highway, six months’ imprisonment, six months disqualification (to be followed by alcohol interlock).

Nicholas Glenn Maynard (43), parttime worker, of Dunedin, refusing enforcement officer’s request for blood specimen, about 4.40pm, June 28, three months’ community detention (curfewed Fridays 6pm to Mondays 6am), six months’ super vision, disqualified 28 days (alcohol interlock licence provisions to follow). Maynard had previous relevant convictions. Judge Michael Turner noted he was not only willing to address alcohol issue but had already begun, also entered early guilty plea.

Kyle Jonathon North (24), employed, drinkdriving, 549mcg (in explanation stated had only drunk six premix alcohol drinks before driving), Burgess St, about 3.40am, September 16, 40 hours’ community work, disqualified six months.

Jacob James Forde (22), breaching intensive supervision imposed North Shore District Court, February 22 (representative charge of failing to report to probation, and moved address without prior written consent of probation), three months’ jail (six months’ release conditions), intensive supervision cancelled. Judge Turner said Forde had six convictions in past four years for breaching court sentences; noted he had not previously been to prison, had ‘‘sea change’’ in attitude since July, now expressing willingness to address addiction issues.

Jonathan Martin Puri Muncaster (44), freezing worker, of Balclutha, assault (at home in Balclutha with then partner, argued about relationship issues, grabbed victim by jacket, which came off, she tried to get back into the bedroom, Muncaster held her under the arms and dragged her down the hallway, told police she had been texting her expartner so he wanted to kick her out of the house; defence counsel Ann Leonard said her client now doing weekly counselling, victim had since moved away from region), July 15, ninemonth deferred sentence.