Drink driver claims he was threatened

Peter Brian Speers, 46, appeared in the Masterton District Court on Tuesday charged with drink-driving and driving while suspended. PHOTO/FILE

A repeat drink-driver who drove while more than three times the legal limit says he was forced to drive after being threatened at a party.

Peter Brian Speers, 46, appeared in the Masterton District Court on Tuesday charged with drink-driving and driving while suspended.

Police said he provided a reading of 773 mcg of alcohol per litre of breath when stopped on Opaki Rd on July 4. He was then caught driving while suspended on July 25 on SH1 near Taihape.

Speers' lawyer, Ian Hard, said his client had been forced to drive after he was threatened at a party in Masterton.

While it was Speers' sixth drink-drive conviction, his last conviction was in 2006, Mr Hard said.

He works long hours in forestry and supports children and is a useful member of society."

Judge Barbara Morris said it was lucky so much time had passed since his last conviction.

"If you were sitting here in 2007, then imprisonment would have been inevitable but I note that 10-year gap and the maturing that has gone on since then."

On the drink-driving charge Judge Morris sentenced Speers to 160 hours' community work, nine months' supervision and disqualified him from driving for one year and one day.

She also ordered him to attended drug and alcohol counselling.

On the driving while suspended charge, she fined him $400 plus $130 court costs and imposed a six month disqualification to be served concurrently.