Decorated former police officer caught drink-driving twice in six days

A former decorated police officer has been convicted of drink-driving twice within six days in Queenstown. Photo/File

A former decorated police officer has been convicted of drink-driving twice within six days in Queenstown.

It was the third conviction for Marsden Wayne McCarthy, 39, self-employed, who was warned any similar offending would result in a prison sentence.

In 2009, McCarthy, in Auckland at the time, was awarded a district commander's award.

McCarthy and his colleagues were alerted to a burglary and tracked the offenders to a Manurewa property, where a search unearthed almost 2000 discarded packets of pseudoephedrine and 10,000 capsules - enough to make $500,000 worth of methamphetamine, it was reported at the time.

They also found guns, ammunition and $35,000 cash.

In 2013, McCarthy was stood down after he was charged with driving with a breath-alcohol level of 1053mcg. He was convicted the following year.

The police summary of facts for the two Queenstown incidents said about 2.10am on March 15 McCarthy was seen driving his Chrysler 300S in Camp St.

He was stopped, and elected a blood test which returned a reading of 264mg.

On March 21, he was spoken to by police and forbidden to drive.

Within hours, a mobile police patrol unit pulled him over and he was breath-tested, with a reading of 757mcg.

In the Queenstown District Court yesterday Judge Mark Callaghan said both levels were ''relatively high''.

The convictions were further aggravated by his previous conviction. However, Judge Callaghan acknowledged he had taken steps to address his alcohol issues.

A report prepared ahead of sentencing said McCarthy had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder ''as a result of your previous occupation''.

A doctor was addressing the ''root cause of the alcohol issues''.

On both drink-driving charges McCarthy was sentenced to 12 months' intensive supervision with special conditions.

They included for him not to be in the Queenstown CBD between 8pm and 7am for the next four months, and to submit to a breath-screening test if requested by police or Probation for the next six months.

He was also sentenced to 300 hours' community work, ordered to pay $192.80 reparation, was disqualified from driving for 21 months and then be subject to a zero-alcohol licence.

He was also ordered to attend an assessment centre and be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver's licence until the director of Land Transport reviewed that.

For driving while forbidden, he was convicted and discharged.