Recidivist drink driver gets 9 months jail

A Timaru man has been jailed for nine months for repeat drinkdriving offences.

Shane Grant Kavanaugh, 25, appeared before Judge Joanna Maze in the Timaru District Court on Thursday, having admitted three charges of drink-driving while on a zero alcohol licence, two of driving while suspended, and one of breaching release conditions.

Kavanaugh blew 543 micrograms per litre of breath (mcg) when he was caught drink driving on September 2, 130mcg when stopped on September 8, and 735mcg when stopped on October 5.

‘‘Each of the charges makes the others worse,’’ Judge Maze said.

‘‘You have indicated over the course of a month you were simply not prepared to stop drinking and driving and putting others at risk,’’ she said.

The defendant has previous convictions for drink driving on a zero alcohol licence from 2010, 2011, and twice in 2014.

Kavanaugh was convicted and sentenced to nine months’ jail and 12 months’ disqualification from driving, after which he would need Judge Maze to apply for a $2000-3000 interlock licence.

His unpaid fines of $3500 were remitted, the judge said. ❚ A Timaru man has been jailed for six months after punching a man repeatedly in an attempt to steal his car and escape police.

Kronn Marjel Church-Davis, 28, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, two charges of attempting to unlawfully take a motor vehicle, unlawful interference with a motor vehicle, and resisting police.

Church-Davis was the passenger in a car which failed to stop for police and drove into the rear of a patrol car on Main North Rd, Geraldine on August 31.

After exiting the crashed car, the defendant approached a Toyota Land Cruiser and tried to pull the driver from the car, swearing and yelling at him.

He and his associate ran towards another car but finding the door locked, returned to the Toyota and punched the driver three to five times in the jaw with a closed first.

Church-Davis then locked himself in a nearby police car. Repeated attempts were made to remove him, and he was tackled to the ground when he finally got out.

Church-Davis, who had already spent three months in custody, was sentenced to six months’ jail. ❚ An Oamaru man is yet to plead on charges that he damaged a police patrol car, injuring an officer in the process.

Ronald Koheku Geoffrey Hunt, 32, is charged with injuring with intent to do grievous bodily harm after allegedly damaging a police vehicle and fence while trying to leave the scene of an incident police had been called to, at about 12.30pm on Tuesday. The officer was said to have suffered a knock to the head and whiplash injuries.

Hunt initially appeared in the Oamaru District Court on Wednesday before appearing again in the Timaru court on Thursday.

Judge Maze said she was satisfied with a forensic nurse’s findings that the defendant was not suffering any ‘‘thought disorder’’ and displayed no evidence of self harm.

Hunt was remanded on bail until December 19, when he would appear in the Oamaru court.