Drunk fisherman takes out fish-and-chips shop
A Nelson fisherman was sentenced for driving at four times the legal alcohol limit and crashing into a takeaway shop in Westport.
On May 28, 24-year-old Justin Raats took out more than the menu when he drove through Smiley’s Takeaways on Cobden St.
After drinking a bottle of rum, Raats was driving west through the intersection of Cobden and Derby streets.
According to the police report, Raats’ vehicle went through the intersection without slowing, mounted the kerb and smashed through the front corner of the shop.
The vehicle caused extensive damage to the store, before coming to a halt near a pole by the side of the road.
Store owner Robert Stewart said his wife was serving a customer when the car smashed through the building.
‘‘He was coming up Derby St and probably took the corner into Cobden St too fast. It took out the corner of the shop,’’ he said.
‘‘Fortunately my wife and the customer weren’t injured. The guy was sitting down on the ground looking sad and he was apologetic.’’
According to officers on the scene at the time, Raats was so drunk ‘‘he couldn’t stand up and couldn’t even remember which direction he came from’’.
A blood-alcohol test showed Raats was more than four times over the legal limit at 210mg per 100ml (50mg per 100ml is the legal limit).
At the Nelson District Court on Monday, Raats pleaded guilty to one count of drink-driving and one count of careless driving.
Raats’ duty solicitor Lucy Patchett said the incident was a ‘‘lapse of judgment’’, with Raats taking immediate responsibility for his actions.
Patchett said Raats had already paid the business owner $1000 worth of damages.
In his sentencing, Judge Peter Hobbs took into account the fact it was Raats’ first offence, his early guilty plea, and remorse over the situation.
Raats was fined $6210 which was to be paid to the building owner, and a $900 fine for excess blood alcohol.
He was also disqualified from driving for eight months.