Judge tells drink-driver to stay away from alcohol
The driver of a car which smashed through the doors of the ANZ bank in Nelson has been convicted on four charges and ordered to not drink alcohol.
Shannon William Mosen-Taku, who lives in Motueka, appeared in the Nelson District Court yesterday and was convicted of driving with excess breath alcohol, reckless driving, failure to stop for the police and driving while disqualified.
Prosecutor Sergeant Wayne Johnston said that on the night of December 1, Mosen-Taku was driving a Toyota car when he was seen turning left in to St Vincent St to avoid a police checkpoint.
The police pursued him with sirens on, but ended the chase after speeds exceeded 90kmh.
At the corner of Trafalgar and Hardy streets, the Toyota clipped the back of a taxi, mounted the curb, smashed down two bollards and crashed through the glass frontage of the ANZ bank.
Mr Johnston said later tests revealed Mosen-Taku had a breath alcohol level of 735 micrograms per litre of breath and admitted to being a disqualified driver. The legal driving limit is 400 micrograms.
Mosen-Taku has two previous charges of driving with excess breath alcohol and two other charges of driving while disqualified.
Judge Chris Tuohy said Mosen-Taku should not drink alcohol. ‘‘He is a risk to the public if he has any alcohol. His history shows he doesn’t have the discipline or self-control not to drive.’’
In setting the bail conditions, Judge Tuohy said Mosen-Taku must submit to a breath screening test if asked by an officer.
If any alcohol was found, he would be locked up, because he ‘‘can’t be trusted not to drive if he touches alcohol’’. ‘‘Some innocent person could be killed or injured,’’ he said.
Mosen-Taku was convicted and remanded on bail until February 18 for sentencing.