Man jailed after racking up 12th drink-drive conviction

A man has been sent to jail after being caught drink-driving for the 12th time, with three offences committed within the space of three months this year.

Yesterday, Ian Lehndorf, who admitted to being an alcoholic, was sent to prison for 22 1⁄2 months after being caught behind the wheel well over the legal limit, and while serving an indefinite driving ban.

Judge David Smith told the New Plymouth District Court how the father of three was stopped in the driveway of a Devon Rd property by police on March 2, after a complaint was fielded about Lehndorf’s driving.

The defendant was found with the car keys in his hand and smelling of alcohol. He was breath tested and blew 972 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, almost four times the legal limit of 250mcgs.

The very next day, about 3.20pm, Lehndorf was stopped by police on Parris St in Waitara, after a passing officer identified him as a disqualified driver. He was tested, returning a result of 815mcgs, and admitted he had been drinking at a friend’s before driving home.

Three months later, on June 18 at 5.30pm, Lehndorf was stopped again by police on Richmond St in Inglewood. Again he admitted to drinking alcohol and when breath tested, blew 821mcgs.

On all three occasions, Lehndorf had been driving while disqualified as he had previously been indefinitely banned.

The 71-year-old previously pleaded guilty to three drink-driving charges, and a matching set of driving while disqualified offences.

Judge Smith said Lehndorf had nine previous drink-driving convictions, with varying alcohol levels of 752-1037mcgs recorded since 1983. He had also been convicted 16 times of driving while disqualified.

Lehndorf’s lawyer, Jo Woodcock, said he accepted he was an alcoholic.

After taking into account Lehndorf’s early guilty pleas, Judge Smith imposed the jail term, and outlined how the defendant could only drive again, with use of an alcohol interlock device, once the indefinite ban was lifted.