‘Too much gin’ lands repeat drinkdriver in jail

THOMAS Lee Hall, a retired doctor of Dunedin, has been convicted of his third drinkdriving offence and an associated charge of disqualified driving.

Hall (67) was driving in Helensburgh Rd when he pulled into the driveway of the Leslie Groves retirement home, about 8.40pm on August 14.

His vehicle stalled and he was unable to restart it.

Members of the public went to see if he was all right as the vehicle was blocking the driveway.

Spoken to by police, Hall admitted having drunk ‘‘too much gin''.

His breathalcohol level was 1335mcg.

He was a disqualified driver.

In explanation he said, ‘‘I went to get some food''.

Counsel Jay Pierce said Hall accepted he made a grave error of judgement and immediately took steps to address his alcoholdependency.

Hall had been socially isolated, lonely and depressed. He wanted to move back to the United States. He was now taking Antabuse, undergoing counselling and no longer had access to a vehicle. Hall had no convictions for any other type of offending, Mr Pierce said.

At sentencing in the Dunedin District Court this week Judge Dominic Flatley said Hall's two previous drinkdrive convictions were in 2014 and 2018. The 2018 offence involved a breathalcohol level of 1233mcg. Hall was sentenced to six months' jail with six months' release conditions and disqualified from driving for 28 days following his release from prison, with alcoholinterlock and zeroalcohol licence provisions to follow.