Jail time cut for grieving burglar

REDUCTION: Despite eluding police at speeds of 180km/h while over the limit, a man has argued his sentence was too harsh

Excessive speed, excessive drink - but the sentence's too excessive, your honour.

A man has successfully argued for less jail time, after getting hit with a nearly three-year sentence for his high-speed police chase and drink-driving.

At a hearing last week in the Wellington High Court, Hayden Poole appealed his two years and seven month sentence on the basis that it was "manifestly excessive".

He was charged with burglary, stealing a car, driving with excess breath alcohol, driving dangerously and failing to stop for police.

In January, he pleaded guilty in Masterton District Court and was sentenced.

The 24-year-old had ended up in court after he stole a car in Pahiatua and led police on a high-speed chase for 11km on SH2 and a burglary, in August and November.

Poole had jemmied open the door of a house with a garden trowel and stole electronic goods worth around $2500.

A couple of months later, he stole a car and a police patrol clocked him speeding at 129km/h and went to pull him over.

However, Poole accelerated up to speeds of 180km/h in rainy conditions with the police in pursuit for 11km.

He cut corners and swerved violently to pass two other cars, ending up in Masterton.

Police put out two sets of road spikes which stopped him.

He tried to flee but was thwarted by a police dog.

A subsequent evidential breath test gave a reading of 596 mcg of alcohol per litre of breath, over the legal limit of 400mcg.

At the hearing, Poole contended a shorter sentence was available and the appropriate sentence was home detention coupled with supervision and community work.

Judge Jillian Mallon agreed that a three-year starting point on the burglary charge was too high but she wasn't persuaded he was a suitable candidate for home detention.

He had previous convictions for similar offences.

"To bring a halt to this, he needs to address his problematic use of alcohol and drugs," the judge said.

She said there was nothing she could see to indicate Poole recognised his problems.

"That is a shame because Mr Poole is a young man who has been to prison many times and yet is continuing to offend."

She accepted he was grieving at the time of the offending.

His grandfather had died and his brother had died in a car accident in September. She quashed the original sentence and replaced it with a sentence of two years and one month.