‘Appalling’ driving record added to

A DEPORTEE with an “appalling” driving record has continued his Australian form on his return to New Zealand, a court has heard.

Philip Ramsay (38) appeared in the Dunedin District Court by video link on Thursday — the norm while the Covid19 Level 4 restrictions apply.

Judge Michael Crosbie noted the defendant racked up 10 driving disqualifications by 2001 before moving to Australia.

There was a hiatus in offending while he was over there but Ramsay chalked up multiple convictions for poor driving until the tipping point in 2017, when he was jailed for 18 months.

The prison term resulted in him being returned to New Zealand.

“He only had the clothes on his back,” defence counsel Pete Tuala said.

After a period of stability, Ramsay’s mother died, followed shortly after by his best friend.

“He decided to turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism,” Mr Tuala told the court.

On December 20 last year, driving the suburban streets of Mosgiel with a friend, Ramsay executed several burnouts over an hour.

They “left the street littered with black skid marks and a damaged road surface”, Judge Crosbie said.

Such was his sustained conduct, a volunteer community security group took note and followed the defendant as he returned home, directing police to the address.

Officers breathalysed Ramsay, who gave a reading of 674mcg — more than twice the legal limit.

He was suspended on the spot for 28 days but just eight days later he was back on the road.

This time police stopped him in Castle St.

Again he blew over the legal limit but not the criminal limit, which resulted in a fine and demerit points.

He earlier stressed to Probation that he was truly sorry for his actions and genuinely wanted to change.

But the judge said he had to weigh that claim against 20 years of repeated offending.

“Can a leopard change its spots? You’d have me accept today that that’s the case,” he said.

Judge Crosbie said it could only be a custodial outcome.

On charges of drinkdriving, aggravated driving while suspended and wheelspinning, Ramsay received six months’ imprisonment.

He was banned from driving for 18 months.