Man caught driving at six times alcohol limit

‘‘The defendant stated he drove home because he was sick of waiting.’’

A Pareora man whose driver’s licence was suspended after he was caught at nearly six times the legal alcohol limit was apprehended back driving the next day.

Graeme John Skelton, 38, pleaded guilty to driving on a zero alcohol licence while his breath contained alcohol and driving while his licence was suspended or revoked when he appeared before Judge Joanna Maze in the Timaru District Court on Tuesday.

Skelton was already on a zero alcohol licence because of drinkdriving recidivism when, on May 7, he blew 1432 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath after being stopped by police on Stafford St, Timaru. The legal alcohol limit for a regular driver’s licence holder is 250mcg.

‘‘In explanation, the defendant stated that he had consumed a large amount of beer at a friend’s address during the day and was driving home, but ran out of fuel,’’ police prosecutor Toaiva Hitila told the court.

Police suspended his driver’s licence for 28 days because his alcohol level was more than 650mcg, Hitila said.

Less than 24 hours later Skelton’s vehicle, a Mitsubishi, was again spotted on Stafford St.

‘‘The defendant drove back to his home address in Pareora. A few hours later, he was spoken with by police and his vehicle was impounded for 28 days.

‘‘In explanation, the defendant stated he drove home because he was sick of waiting,’’ the police summary said.

Skelton had obtained a zero alcohol licence after being convicted of driving with excess breath alcohol for the third or subsequent time in 2016.

‘‘The defendant was sentenced to a period of disqualification, after which he could apply for a zero alcohol licence.’’

Judge Maze convicted Skelton and remanded him on bail for sentencing on August 5, ordering a pre-sentence report with appendices.

‘‘You are not to drive a motor vehicle during the period of remand,’’ the judge said.