Crash victim finds himself on police 'shame' list

David Firman said he did not blame the paper for publishing the error. Photo / Thinkstock

A Napier man wrongly included in a police compiled drink-driving list of shame says the error has caused him huge embarrassment.

David Firman, 41, was incorrectly named as a drink-driver in the list, which was published in Saturday's Hawke's Bay Today.

"I just can't understand how police could get something like this wrong," Mr Firman said.

"The problem is when you see something written in the paper you assume it's correct."

Mr Firman was in fact the victim in a two-car collision in Napier on October 9 last year.

His vehicle was "T-boned" at an intersection by 25-year-old Napier student Sharon Jordan, who was later convicted for drink-driving, fined $550 and disqualified for six months.

He said he did not intend taking legal action and did not blame the paper for the error.

"It's not the paper's fault. This is the court's mistake, not theirs. They're putting a big thing in the paper, so I'm happy with that.

"To be honest, I just want the whole thing to go away and be forgotten about."

Mr Firman had received numerous phone calls as a result of his inclusion on the list, which had angered him, he said.

"Yet it's the people that don't say anything that worries me more." Police had since called him to apologise for the error and he said he was satisfied with their admitting the mistake.

"You can't turn back time, what's done is done. I just want it to be over."

The monthly list of convictions - which is compiled by NZ Police - is supplied to Hawke's Bay Today under the Official Information Act.

Police Eastern District communications manager Kris McGehan said the mistake was unfortunate and was the result of an administrative error.

"Police sincerely apologise for any distress caused to Mr Firman and his family."