KEY POINTS:
A drink-driver who abused police when he was caught three times over the alcohol limit has been sentenced to one year in jail.
Shane Graham Halse, 40, a computer operator from Motueka, pleaded guilty to two charges of threatening to kill, one each of resisting police, failing to accompany police, assaulting police and driving with excess breath alcohol.
When he appeared in Nelson District Court yesterday , Judge Tony Zohrab said on March 3 Halse was drinking at Mapua and was "heavily intoxicated" when he drove to Mariri.
Several people called police to complain about his driving.
Judge Zohrab said Halse refused to accompany police and struggled with an officer, the Nelson Mail reported.
Once at the Motueka police station, he was aggressive towards staff and told one constable he was going to kill him and another that he was going to find his family and kill them.
A breath test showed Halse had 1110 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.
Judge Zohrab said it was Halse's sixth drink-driving conviction.
Halse was sentenced to 12 months in jail, his vehicle was confiscated and he was indefinitely disqualified from driving.
He was given leave to apply for a substitute sentence in place of the prison term.
- NZPA
