Suspended driver’s good turn leads to community work

A Timaru man has been sentenced to community work after being caught driving while suspended as he drove a friend’s daughter to a school ball.

Dane Andrew Hodgson, 31, appeared before Judge Brian Callaghan in the Timaru District Court yesterday.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while suspended.

Defence counsel Grant Fletcher said Hodgson had been a ‘‘frequent flyer’’ in the courts between 2005 and 2010, but he had largely ‘‘kept his nose clean’’ in the subsequent years.

‘‘For someone of his chequered past, this is a remarkable achievement,’’ Fletcher said.

‘‘He’s moving to Auckland in a month’s time, he’s completing his mechanic’s apprenticeship. He wants to start a new life for himself.’’

Fletcher said Hodgson’s decision to drive while suspended was not ‘‘thumbing his nose’’ at authority, rather he did it because he wanted to drop off a friend’s daughter at a school ball.

‘‘I know the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but he was trying to do the right thing,’’ Fletcher said.

According to the police summary of facts, Hodgson had his licence suspended on September 27, 2020 for excess demerits.

He was twice convicted for driving while suspended in 2008.

On October 16, 2020, Hodgson was stopped by police because his vehicle appeared to be not up to warrant of fitness standard, and Hodgson initially ‘‘gave false details before identifying himself as the registered owner’’.

Fletcher said Hodgson could do his community work once he was ensconced in Auckland.

‘‘He could be on the road next week, and he can put everything behind him,’’ Fletcher said.

Judge Callaghan said he accepted Hodgson was trying to turn his life around.

‘‘I think he’s shown that he has been able to change his life. As an apprentice diesel mechanic, a licence would be important.’’

Judge Callaghan sentenced Hodgson to 160 hours of community work. He did not disqualify him from driving.

‘‘I know the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but he was trying to do the right thing.’’ Defence counsel Grant Fletcher