Jail was inevitable for a Whangarei man with 10 previous convictions for drink-driving, including three separate sentences of imprisonment for repeatedly getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.
Justin Paratene, 38, appeared for sentencing in the Whangarei District Court this week on his 11th charge of driving with excess breath-alcohol, one of driving while forbidden and another of failing to answer district court bail.
Judge Greg Davis queried at what point would Paratene get the message that drinking and driving didn't go hand in hand.
Paratene's lawyer Melissa Russell said the level of 559 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath was relatively low and unlike on previous occasions, he didn't blatantly get into a vehicle and drive.
He'd been drinking the night before to celebrate his family moving into a new house and drove to get some food in the morning before he was stopped by police about 10am on December 12, 2013.
