Drink-driver gets jail for latest offence

A man who admitted his seventh drink-driving offence has been sent to prison for nine months.

Russell Lewis Oswald, 46, gibstopper, appeared for sentence in Nelson District Court on Tuesday after being caught driving with excess breath alcohol of 596 micrograms a litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.

For Oswald John Sandston said his client was sincere in his wish to deal with his drinking problem.

He did not drink very much and there had been a three-year gap between his previous offence and the latest one.

Oswald was realistic about a prison sentence but was "motivated to stay out of trouble", Mr Sandston said.

Judge Paul Whitehead said Oswald had received "the entire spectrum of sentences".

"There is no compelling evidence you're prepared to change," he said. "You have said you don't want to go through a programme full of druggies. The fact is alcohol is a drug."

Oswald was given leave to apply for home detention. He was also disqualified from driving for 15 months.

- NZPA