Woman flees up driveway

A drink-driver who fled from police up her own driveway was found hiding in a neighbour’s garage.

Police were tipped off that Carla Mary Lambert, 46, was driving and found her heading west on Parker St, in Blenheim, on January 10.

But despite police turning on flashing lights Lambert did not pull over, instead pulling into her driveway and fleeing through the house, a police summary of facts said.

Police found her hiding in a neighbour’s vehicle in their garage, the summary said.

Lambert gave a breath test result of 539 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 250mcg.

She was disqualified from driving at the time. When spoken to by police, she said she needed to get to a funeral in Picton, and knew she was not allowed to drive but felt she had no other way to get there.

Lambert admitted drink-driving for the third or subsequent time, and driving while disqualified for the third or subsequent time, at the Blenheim District Court on Monday.

She was convicted for drink-driving in 1996 and indefinitely disqualified from driving, but had repeatedly breached the disqualification.

Her lawyer John Holdaway said as a repeat offender, Lambert was eligible for an alcohol interlock sentence. An interlock would be installed on her car ignition, preventing the car from starting unless she passed a breath test.

Judge Arthur Tompkins said Lambert had a ‘‘long history of alcohol abuse’’. Lambert said she was addressing her alcohol issues.

Judge Tompkins convicted Lambert and ordered a pre-sentencing report, remanding her on bail to March 30 for sentencing, with conditions not to purchase, possess or consume alcohol, and not to drive.