Disqualified driver just avoids going to prison

A Masterton builder was warned he had missed going to prison by a "fine margin" when he appeared for sentence in Masterton District Court yesterday.

William Young Rimene was sentenced to six months' community detention with an 8pm-4am curfew from Thursday to Sunday, 200 hours community work and a year's supervision.

He was also disqualified from driving for 21 months.

He had pleaded guilty to twice driving while disqualified, theft and driving with excess breath alcohol.

Judge Stephen Harrop said the disqualified driving convictions were Rimene's fourth and fifth.

The drink-driving charge was "within a month" of a similar offence.

"You don't respect court sentences and are contemptuous of court orders instructing you not to drive," Judge Harrop said.

"You also have a serious alcohol problem."

The combination of offences for which he was sentencing Rimene showed previous sentences had not meant anything to Rimene.

"You just carry on regardless," Judge Harrop said.

Rimene, he said, must understand he had only missed going to prison by the narrowest of margins.

Rimene was also ordered to pay reparation of $69 on the theft charge.