Driver's alcohol level off breathalyser scale

The most intoxicated driver caught on Northland's roads - who also makes the country's top 10 drink-driver list - has been banned from driving indefinitely.

Peter Charles Bootes was nearly six times the legal blood-alcohol limit and was so drunk he had to hold on to the walls of the police station to stop himself falling over after he was stopped on March 17.

Breath-testing procedures were started, but because Bootes' alcohol level exceeded the testing machine's top limit of 2000 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, a blood sample had to be taken instead.

Test results showed the 52-year-old had a blood-alcohol level of 458 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit for motorists aged 20 and above is 80mg per 100ml. The blood level equated to a breath alcohol level of 2250 micrograms.

Judge Thomas Everitt, in Whangarei District Court yesterday, said he would have sent Bootes to jail if it hadn't been for a judge's intervention at a previous appearance.

"It was an appalling situation. It was selfish and thoughtless," Judge Everitt said. '

'You really deserve a sentence of imprisonment. You were wilfully, intentionally endangering the public. This case is hard on the heels of another shocking incident of drink-driving when you had an extremely high level of 1269 micrograms in 2008."

Lawyer Kelly Hennessy said Bootes had had a difficult three-year relationship with his partner - mainly because of alcohol.

On the day, Bootes had argued with his partner and decided to drive to a nearby spot to contemplate their relationship. "It was the wrong decision - he had been drinking."

Bootes was sentenced to four months' community detention, 12 months' supervision and 300 hours' community work. He was given a final warning and disqualified from driving indefinitely.