Dunedin District Court

SENTENCES imposed by community magistrate Janet Holmes in the Dunedin District Court on Friday were. —

Oliver Edward Goerge Skeggs (26), employed, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 1112mcg, and careless driving (in Balmacewen Rd, heading towards Highgate, lost control and hit parked vehicle; continued driving, hit another parked vehicle; continued to drive, veered to opposite side of road, hit another parked vehicle; his vehicle extensively damaged and undriveable, waited beside his vehicle for police), about 2.10am, June 21, overall penalty, 100 hours’ community work, 12 months’ supervision, reparation $500, disqualified 28 days (alcoholinterlock and zeroalcohol licence provisions to follow). Counsel Kate Logan said Skeggs was remorseful, offered to attend restorative justice but it did not go ahead. Magistrate noted Skeggs had a previous drinkdrive conviction in 2014.

Corey Leaupepe (31), medical student, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 743mcg (counsel Jo Turner said Leaupepe went to friend’s place to celebrate end of semester, driving to centre of city to get something to eat; no driving fault, random stop, ‘‘tells me he didn’t feel affected by alcohol . . . wouldn’t have got behind the wheel if he did’’), Frederick St, about 1.35am, June 20, fined $700, court costs $130, disqualified six months. Magistrate declined application for discharge without conviction, noted Leaupepe had no previous convictions.

Brodie Graham Champion (18), of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 574mcg, and careless driving (driving his mother’s car on State Highway 87 north of Middlemarch some time between 12am and 1am, September 6; associate concerned about his mental health and sobriety notified police; on straight section of road, Champion lost control of vehicle, causing it to roll before coming to a stop partially blocking the road; passing members of public discovered the crash, pushed vehicle off road, took Champion to Middlemarch for medical assessment and safety; in explanation Champion stated he could remember drinking alcohol, having a panic attack and driving the car, but could not remember how the crash occurred), for drinkdriving fined $400, court costs $130, disqualified seven months; on careless driving convicted and discharged. Counsel Ann Leonard said Champion suffering from anxiety in recent months, made bad decision to drive, taking responsibility for writing off his mother’s car, paying off the cost of her new one. Magistrate noted Champion entered early guilty pleas, had no previous convictions.

Brendon Matthew Beattie (27), plumber, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 139mg (alcohol checkpoint stop), Kaikorai Valley Rd, about 8pm, August 28, fined $500, court costs $130, medical and analyst’s expenses $223, disqualified six months. Counsel Rhona Daysh said Beattie normally of good character, ‘‘what he did on the night totally out of character’’.

Jay Jay Suiselani Kosena Selesele (28), employed, drinkdriving, 490mcg (driving in Andersons Bay Rd, stopped in McDonald’s car park by police due to excess speed; in explanation said had been drinking with his uncle at a friend’s house in South Dunedin, had drunk four or five bottles of Heineken and had food, believed he was good to drive and that his uncle had drunk twice as much, then drove his uncle to McDonald’s, 12.20am,

July 19, fined $500, court costs $130, disqualified 28 days (alcoholinterlock and zeroalcohol licence provisions to follow). Magistrate noted Kosena Selesele previously convicted of drinkdriving in March last year.

Braedon Gordon Johnston (18), employed, of Clarendon, drinkdriving aged under 20, 284mcg (stopped by police, who saw rear passengers in his vehicle drinking alcohol; Johnston said he had drunk two stubbies of beer earlier in the evening but had not had much food during the day), George St, Dunedin, about 11.40pm, September 12, fined $250, court costs $130, disqualified three months. Counsel Ann Leonard said sober driver who had been arranged to drive them after a 21st birthday ‘‘fell through’’, Johnston thought he would be all right to drive, ‘‘will be much more careful in future’’. Johnston had no previous convictions.

Ashley John Haar (25), of Dunedin, disqualified driving, Hillside Rd, about 2am, September 6, 40 hours’ community work, disqualified six months.

Tutera Te Moana (29), parttime worker, of Dunedin, threatening behaviour, and resisting constable (from his behaviour after car in which he was the front seat passenger was stopped by police), Macandrew Rd, about 11.55am, September 16, fined $400, court costs $130 (threatening offence), convicted and discharged (resisting).