Taupo District Court report
JAILED FOR 11th DRINK DRIVING CONVICTION Ten previous drink driving convictions has seen a Taupo man jailed for the third time. Glenn James Hurinui, 45, was sentenced to 15 months in prison at the Taupo District Court on July 20. Hurinui appeared on two charges which were dated in May; driving with excess breath alcohol 801 micrograms [mcg] of alcohol per litre of blood - where the legal limit is 400 and driving while disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence. Judge P.R Connell made note of Hurinui’s 10 previous convictions and said the offending started back in 1989 when Hurinui received his first three convictions. Hurinui received another two in 1990, one in 1993, 2001 and in 2002. In 2007 in blew 1029mcg and was jailed for six months, while in 2012 he blew 1059mcg and received an indefinite disqualification from driving. Judge Connell said for the safety of the community he was obliged to impose a sentence of imprisonment. Hurinui was also given another indefinite disqualification.
COMMUNITY WORK FOR DRINK DRIVER Michelle Pamela Hitaua, 43, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving with excess breath alcohol. On June 17 Hitaua was stopped at a routine breath stop and blew 733mcg. Hitaua was sentenced to 90 hours community work, 12 months supervision, 12 months and one day disqualification from holding or obtaining a drivers licence and confiscation of her vehicle.
ASSAULT ON MOTHER AND COP Claudia Katheryn Dunn, pleaded guilty to one charge of assault and one charge of assault on a police officer. The court heard how on April 29, Dunn assaulted her mum before being found wandering Rifle Range Road by Police. When approached by Police, Dunn swore at them and when she was arrested for detoxification she spat on one of the police officers. Dunn was sentenced to 80 hours community work and nine months supervision.