Sustained loss of traction

Arrowtown plumber Brodie Arnal Tairoa Johnston (35), was convicted for doing donuts in Arrowtown on July 14, while drunk, with his two young children in the back of his vehicle.

Defence counsel Megan McCrostie said Johnston had taken his children to Wilcox Green in Arrowtown to look at rabbits and chase them in the car.

‘‘He knows he made a poor decision and he regrets that.

‘‘At the time he saw it as having a bit of fun with his kids . . . but he sees now he made an error in judgement and this was a very poor decision.

‘‘He is ashamed he involved his children in this offending — he’s deeply remorseful.’’

Ms McCrostie said Johnston had lost his job as a result of the offending and had subsequently become selfemployed.

Mr Heale said at 6.24pm Johnston drove on Nairn St to Wilcox Green where he performed a donut. While police alleged he then drove to the Tobin’s car park and performed another six to eight donuts, the defendant denied that.

He also denied one of his young children was unrestrained at the time.

A breath test, administered later at his home address, gave a reading of 463mcg.

Johnston said he had been drinking at home after the incident but accepted the charge of drinkdriving.

Mr Heale said both the incident and being processed by police in front of his children had ‘‘no doubt had a salutary effect on you’’.

For drinkdriving he was fined $500, ordered to pay $130 court costs and was disqualified for eight months and for sustained loss of traction he was ordered to pay $130 court costs and disqualified for eight months.

A Civil contractor Jacob Tony Sowman (19), of Wanaka, was convicted for sustained loss of traction, having done donuts at two intersections on State Highway 95 on July 16 because he was ‘‘blowing off a bit of steam’’ after having a ‘‘bad day at work’’.

Mr Heale said between 8pm and 9pm, Sowman was driving between Te Anau and Manapouri.

At the intersection of the highway and Golf Course Rd he stopped and did donuts for 30 to 40 seconds and on the return leg he repeated the behaviour at the intersection with William Stephens Rd, where the sustained loss of traction lasted about a minute.

He was fined $200, ordered to pay $130 court costs and was disqualified for six months.