Drink-driver four times over the limit

A Rangitata dairy farmer taken to hospital after his vehicle slid off the road into two fences was more than four times over the legal alcohol limit.

Rodney Ballantine’s vehicle had to be written off after the crash which substantially damaged the fences in the early hours of November 28.

Ballantine, 29, pleaded guilty to careless driving and driving with excess bloodalcohol content when he appeared before Judge Tom Gilbert in the Timaru District Court yesterday.

He was sentenced to 100 hours’ community work, ordered to pay $650 reparation and a $111.99 blood analysis fee, and disqualified from driving for 28 days after which he could apply for an alcohol interlock licence.

Ballantine had been drinking with friends at a Geraldine pub before driving home along Main North Rd, about 3.15am.

‘‘As he was leaving the residential area, he lost control on a moderate right-hand bend – crashing his vehicle,’’ police prosecutor Sergeant Ian Howard told the court.

A blood sample revealed Ballantine’s alcohol level was 218 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, more than four times the legal limit of 50mg.

Judge Gilbert said Ballantine had been ‘‘far too intoxicated’’ to be driving, the loss of his vehicle serving as an additional penalty for his decision.

Ballantine had a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2012, when he blew 716 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The limit is 250mcg.