Alexandra District Court

AN Alexandra woman who drove while more than six times over the legal limit has been sentenced to intensive supervision.

Sulene Badenhorst (33), drove with a breathalcohol limit of 1621mcg in Alexandra on August 23, Judge Michael Turner heard in the Alexandra District Court. The legal limit is 250mcg. Counsel for Badenhorst, Kieran Tohill, said Badenhorst’s level was one of the highest he had seen in his 25 years working as a lawyer.

Badenhorst’s was a ‘‘rather tragic predicament’’, after she became addicted to alcohol following the breakdown of her marriage, Mr Tohill said.

He said Badenhorst needed intensive supervision and alcohol counselling, and was already receiving alcohol counselling. She had stopped drinking alcohol, and was ‘‘doing well’’.

Judge Turner said Badenhorst’s offending and extremely high breath alcohol level had made her a danger to herself and others.

He said it was important to address the underlying cause of Badenhorst’s offending and he sentenced her to 12 months’ intensive supervision. She was also disqualified from driving for 28 days, after which time she would be eligible to apply for an alcohol interlock device licence.

Michelle Ellison (40) had taken a total of 13 items, each worth less than $10, on eight separate occasions from Cromwell New World between August 2 and September 5 this year.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Ian Collin, said Ellison had taken the items while buying other items at the selfservice checkout and there was a ‘‘repeat pattern’’ to her offending.

On each occasion she had scanned items held in her right hand, but not scanned items in her left hand, then put the unscanned items in a grocery bag, quickly removed the bag from the scale and put it on the floor, leaving without paying for those items.

When staff became suspicious they spoke to her and CCTV footage was checked.

Counsel for Ellison, Justine Baird, said Ellison was ‘‘extremely upset’’. She accepted the items had not been paid for and had pleaded guilty, but said the offending was ‘‘a slip of her hand more than anything’’.

Ellison told Judge Turner she had never taken anything before, did not ‘‘recall’’ the offending, and did not take the items on purpose.

Judge Turner said ‘‘the difficulty is, it was repeated conduct’’, and ‘‘not one occasion, but six or seven’’.

Ellison was ordered to pay reparation of $150. (40), drinkdriving, 1013mcg, Cromwell, August 19. Fined $1200, court costs $130, disqualified from driving for six months.

Tyler Grant Ronald van den Yssel (23), concrete cutter, of Blackmans, drinkdriving, 464mcg, Alexandra, October 20. Fined $525, court costs $130, disqualified for six months.

Christopher Gerard Hughes (63), of Alexandra, drink driving (third or subsequent similar offence), 102mg, Clyde, August 5. Two months’ community detention, disqualified 28 days and subject to an alcohol interlock device.

Gavin Bruce Spence (38), labourer, of Alexandra, driving while forbidden and driving in exceedance of 100kmh (158kmh), in Cromwell, August 2; and driv

AAAing while forbidden, Alexandra, September 14. Fined $1150, court costs $260.

Jason Abbott (19), of Alexandra, driving while disqualified, dangerous driving (up to 140kmh on the southern motorway) and failing to stop when followed by a vehicle with red and blue flashing lights, Dunedin, September 29. Fifty hours’ community work, disqualified 12 months.

Kate Hazel Pendreigh (18), of Cromwell, careless use of a motor vehicle and driving while suspended, Alexandra, September 1. Disqualified for six months from November 21. Wira James Wilson (46), of Roxburgh, driving while disqualified, Roxburgh, August 18. Fined $500, court costs $130, six months’ supervision.

AAA