‘‘If my suspicions are confirmed, and he came to court today in an intoxicated state, then it is not indicative of his willingness to change his way, especially on such an important day as today.’’

Sergeant Grant Neal

‘‘There is an acceptance that things can’t go on. He has spent a considerable time incarcerated since he was 16. He is tired and realises things have to change,’’ Bradford said.

With the breath test not proceeding, Judge Dravitzki continued the sentencing, eventually jailing Wehi for two years for disqualified driving, driving with excess blood alcohol (135mg, limit 50mcg) and possession of methamphetamine after being stopped on State Highway 1, near Waimate, on February 20.

Wehi, who was indefinitely disqualified from driving in 2015, was also sentenced on five outstanding disqualified driving charges from 2017 (three), December 2019 and November 2020, breaching bail in 2018 and 2019, and breaching release conditions in 2016 and 2017 (two).

Judge Dravitzki, in saying the most serious offences were the driving-related ones, also said Wehi had nine previous driving with excess breath/blood alcohol convictions and had been jailed in 2015, while there were also 12 previous disqualified driving convictions.

‘‘A serious aggravating feature [of the February 2022 event] was that you were a disqualified driver at the time . . .’’