Conviction takes farm worker off road

Ahigh breath alcohol reading has taken a farm worker off the road, after Luke Philip Duvall Broughton, 29, Tararua, was stopped by police on SH2 Takapau after complaints from other motorists about his driving.

Broughton, who said through his lawyer that he started drinking that day after his grandfather had died, and admits it was a terrible decision, recorded a breath alcohol level of 1198mcg/l. The legal limit is 250mcg/ l.

Judge Matenga described the level as “extremely high” and said while he understood the dairy farm worker needed to drive tractors and other vehicles on the farm, he was going to be unable to drive them on the road as he was now convicted, fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Alex La Nease White, 19, Waipawa, was stopped at a routine traffic stop on Porangahau Rd, Waipukurau, on December 30 and recorded a breath alcohol level of 182mcg/l. The legal limit for someone under 20 is zero.

White, who has not appeared in court before, admitted through her lawyer that she had no excuse and it was a “stupid move” and said she was driving her boyfriend home.

White was convicted, fined $300 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Misty Jessica Tua, 32, Waipukurau, appeared on a third or subsequent charge of driving while disqualified and one charge of giving false details.

Tua was stopped on SH2 Waipukurau on July 13 for speeding and gave false details to police. Through her lawyer Tua explained she was driving because her sister’s baby was sick and she was the only sober driver available to take the child to hospital. She said when pulled over by police she panicked and gave the false details.

Tua was convicted of driving while disqualified and sentenced to three months community detention and nine months supervision.

On the charge of giving false details she was sentenced to nine months supervision.

Harmoni Fleur Jackson, 49, Waipukurau, appeared on two charges of driving while disqualified and a third or subsequent charge of driving with excess breath alcohol. Two of the charges were from October 3 when Jackson was stopped by police on Wellington Rd Waipukurau and recorded a breath alcohol level of 600mcg/l.

Checks revealed Jackson was unlicensed and had never held a licence.

Jackson was also stopped on Racecourse Rd Waipukurau on December 28 and charged with driving while disqualified. Judge Matenga said “that makes three drink driving charges in three years. This is concerning . . . if you continue down this course the court will have no choice but to imprison you.”

On the excess breath alcohol charge Jackson was convicted, disqualified from driving for one year and one day and sentenced to four months community detention and nine months supervision.

On the disqualified driving charges Jackson was sentenced to six months disqualification, nine months supervision and four months community detention.

Bailey Langley, 18, Waipukurau, appeared on one charge of driving with excess breath alcohol. Langley crashed his vehicle after failing to take a corner on Farm Rd, Waipukurau on November 28. A breath alcohol test returned a reading of 743mcg/l. Through his lawyer Langley said he had been drinking and wanted to go to the beach. He was thankful no one had been with him. The vehicle had been written off.

Judge Matenga said he hoped this was a lesson Langley could learn early in life. Langley was convicted, fined $650 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Braydon John Peter England 23, Tikokino, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving with excess breath alcohol. England was stopped on River Terrace Waipukurau and returned a breath alcohol reading of 495mcg/l. England was convicted, fined $450 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Hikawera McKenzie, 25, Otane, pleaded guilty to charges of driving with excess breach alcohol, careless driving and failure to answer to district court bail.

On November 3 McKenzie was driving on SH2, Waipukurau, on a wet road in the dark when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed through a fence onto private property. Mckenzie was uninjured and phoned police. He recorded a breath alcohol level of 712mcg/l.

McKenzie said he had been drinking to celebrate a win on the Melbourne Cup.

Judge Matenga said McKenzie had pleaded guilty at an early stage and had not previously appeared in court. On the drink driving charge McKenzie was convicted and fined $600, disqualified from driving for six months. On the careless driving charge he was ordered to pay $1000 reparation. On the breach of bail charge he was discharged without conviction as he had been at sea at the time.

Wayne John Heron, 52, Waipawa, appeared on a 10th charge of driving with excess breath alcohol.

On September 11 Heron took a new motorcycle for test run. He failed to take a corner, crossed the centreline and crashed into a macrocarpa hedge. Heron was not wearing a helmet and recorded a blood alcohol reading of 178mg/100ml. The legal limit is 50mg/100ml.

Judge Matenga said Heron needed to be held accountable for his offending behaviour, saying “this is a very high reading and this is not your first such offence. You have been in prison, and for your last conviction in 2019 you received community detention.”

Heron was convicted and sentenced to six months home detention with special post-release conditions for six months, disqualified from driving for 28 days and sentenced to an alcohol interlock licence.