Dunedin District Court
‘‘I do not accept your offer of remorse to me in a letter you have written,’’ Judge Emma Smith told a man on driving charges.
‘‘You are not sorry. I know that because you keep on offending in the same way. People who are sorry do not do that,’’ the judge said.
Dylan Allan Cairns (26), employed, was before the Dunedin District Court yesterday convicted of drinkdriving (651mcg), dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, and driving while forbidden.
Sentenced to five months’ home detention (with six months’ postdetention conditions), he was also disqualified from driving for 19 months (with zeroalcohol licence provisions to follow), and on one charge he is to pay court costs $130.
The police summary said Cairns was driving at high speed in South Rd, about 1.45am on September 13.
Police followed with their vehicle’s red and blue flashing lights and siren activated. Travelling towards Mosgiel on the motorway, Cairns reached speeds between 140kmh and 150kmh.
Roadspiked as he entered Mosgiel, he drove at 90kmh in a 50kmh zone and through a roundabout in the wrong direction.
He stopped in Gladstone Rd North and was taken into custody.
His explanation for failing to stop was he had been drinking and had no licence.
He had two previous convictions for drinkdriving, both in 2016.
Counsel Andy Belcher said Cairns had taken himself off his medication, but he was now back on it and more stable. He had also moved to a rural area ‘‘to remove himself from bad influences . . . and has found himself a job about 500m away from where he lives’’.
Cairns was clearly remorseful and had entered an early guilty plea, Mr Belcher said.
Other convictions
Levi Troy Paul (35), cleaner, of Kaitangata, drinkdriving, aggravated driving while disqualified (police called by members of the public, Paul now had five convictions for driving while disqualified and two for drinkdriving; the court heard the defendant had never held a driving licence), 600mcg, September 30, Hospital Rd, Balclutha, nine months’ intensive supervision, 80 hours’ community work, 13 months’ disqualification, court costs $130.
Karis Cassidy (21), breaching parole (failed to report to probation), Hamilton, December 28, one month’s jail, court costs $130. Counsel Rhona Daysh said Cassidy handed himself in to Oamaru probation office, waived his right to presentence report. Judge Smith took into account Cassidy had made some effort to get back on track with his reporting, entered early guilty plea.
Katrina Mary Hughes (39), of Dunedin, threatening to kill (victim Hughes’ 21yearold son; Hughes sent him threatening text messages during fourhour period from about 8.30am), September 9, sentence deferred six months, court costs $130. Judge said messages highly profane and threatened victim’s life, accepted Hughes had not intended carrying out what were hollow threats, noted Hughes entered early guilty plea.