Arrest cop's absence lets drink-driver duck charge

Philip Veitch Wilson's car crashed against a power pole on Western Lake Road, Featherston. Photo / Wairarapa Times Age

By Hayley Gastmeier and Seamus Boyer

A drink-driving charge has been dropped against a serial offender because the arresting officer was not available to give evidence.

Philip Veitch Wilson, 54, was instead convicted of careless driving after police struck a deal with lawyer Peter Brosnahan.

Wilson, who previously has been jailed and twice indefinitely disqualified for driving drunk, was banned from driving on the careless driving charge - but could legally be back behind the wheel in four months.

Police have confirmed that the drink-drive charge was dropped in Masterton District Court due to the charging officer being unavailable - but will not say why.

Wilson, from Dannevirke, was charged with drink-driving and careless driving after he crashed his car into a power pole near Featherston in July last year.

But in Masterton District Court on Tuesday, the drink-driving charge was withdrawn with police prosecutor Sergeant Tom Andrews saying there had been "difficulty with that charge".

In a statement Area Commander Inspector Donna Howard said the charge was withdrawn "due to the charging officer being unavailable".

"We cannot go into details of why the officer was unavailable."

She said police took drink-driving cases seriously, and worked to hold offenders to account.

Judge Arthur Tompkins asked Wilson what he recalled of the crash.

"I don't know if I was distracted, or sneezed, but next thing I knew I was jamming on the brakes," Wilson said.

"I got out of the vehicle and I was pretty shaken up."

Judge Tompkins said according to Wilson's criminal record, he had "been driving drunk since 1985".

Wilson told the judge that he had already sought help for his drinking.

"I got myself right and I got myself a job," he said.

- Wairarapa Times Age