Grandmother 'appalling example'

A Southland judge has condemned a grandmother who drove through Gore as her teenage passengers, including her two daughters, and the occupants of another vehicle hurled bottles at each other.

Joanne Lee Genge, 40, justified her action by saying that she was the sober driver, Gore District Court was told.

She was sentenced to 120 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for six months after admitting related motoring offences, The Southland Times reported.

Sergeant Glenn McMurdo said Genge had six teenagers, aged between 15 and 17, in her Chrysler Valiant on November 15 last year.

She pulled in behind another vehicle and started tailgating it while the occupants of both cars threw bottles at each other.

When the front car slowed down Genge passed it on the inside as they travelled south on Main St, he said.

Judge Dominic Flatley described it as a stupid thing to do.

He said Genge was setting an appalling example for her children.

"Do you want them to be where you are now?" Judge Flatley asked her.

Genge admitted one of her daughters had already appeared in court.

- NZPA