Repeat offender jailed

A man whose drink driving record was described as "rabid alcoholism" by a district court judge has been jailed for his third conviction.
Bailey Noel Matangi, a 31-year-old self-employed plasterer, was jailed for four months by Judge Russell Callander when he appeared in Tauranga District Court this week.
His lawyer, Viv Winiata, had asked that his client be considered for a community work sentence or be given the opportunity to complete an alcohol counselling programme.
Mr Winiata pointed out that the probation report on Matangi said he was at low risk of re-offending. He described Matangi as a quietly spoken, reserved man.
Judge Callander said he could not accept that given Matangi's record.
"There's no way I can deal with you here with anything other than a sentence of imprisonment."
In his latest offence, Matangi was caught on March 10 at 12.38am driving along Courtney Rd in Tauranga. A random stop and breath test by police showed he had a breath alcohol level of 1241mcg per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.
In explanation, he told police he was picking up his partner from work.
Judge Callander was not impressed with the high level, given the risk to other motorists on the road.
"The problem in our society is that people who drive with well over three times the legal level are potential murderers."
He pointed put that Matangi, who pleaded guilty, had two prior drink driving convictions - one was a reading of 1308mcg on May 9, 2002, and the other was 626mcg on January 29, 1994.
As well as the jail term, Matangi was also disqualified indefinitely.
TEEN CONVICTED: A pregnant woman was admitted to hospital after an unlicensed driver crashed into her car.
In Tauranga District Court yesterday, community magistrate Robyn Paterson convicted Gary Mita Boudette - the 17-year-old driver responsible for the accident - on two charges of careless driving causing injury.
The unemployed Mount Maunganui teen was convicted and ordered to pay $4410 in reparation to the woman for damage to her car. He was also disqualified from driving for six months.
The accident happened on December 27 last year at 6.50pm.
That day Boudette, an unlicensed driver, was driving a car at about 60kmh down Rocky Cutting Rd in Papamoa. He had four passengers, including his mother who was a front-seat passenger.
As he got to a corner, he lost control and the car slid to the wrong side of the road.
Boudette's car hit the middle of the pregnant woman's vehicle. He was not hurt in the incident but the four-months-pregnant woman received bruising to her chest. She was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
Boudette's mother was also taken to hospital.
As well as the convictions and reparation, Mrs Paterson ordered Boudette, who pleaded guilty, to return to court by January 2006 with a licence.