Driver getting help for drink problem

A New Plymouth driver who was pulled over by the police in the early hours was found to have more than three times the legal amount of alcohol in his system, a court was told.

Bradley James Giddy previously pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol and he appeared in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday for sentencing.

The 30-year-old was arrested and charged after he was pulled over for a random traffic stop on Vivian St in New Plymouth on June 30 at about 3.50am.

After undergoing an evidential breath test, he blew 919 micrograms. The legal limit is 250 mcgs.

‘‘In explanation the defendant said he had a few but thought he would be ok to drive,’’ the summary of facts said.

Giddy’s lawyer, Susan Hurley, said her client had engaged with alcohol and drug counselling through the Taranaki Base Hospital.

She said while Giddy was unemployed at the moment, he had good family support in place to help him tackle his alcohol abuse.

‘‘He’s motivated and wants to address his issues,’’ she said.

Judge Chris Sygrove described the breath alcohol reading as ‘‘quite high’’ and said it was an aggravating factor in the offending.

However, he said there was no evidence of poor driving and there had been some distance between his recent offence and his last conviction, which took place in 2009.

‘‘You clearly made a wrong decision,’’ the judge said.

Sygrove said Giddy was also convicted for drunk driving in 2007.

Giddy was convicted and ordered to complete six months’ supervision.

He will also have to do 150 hours of community work.

Sygrove also banned the defendant from driving for one year and one day.