Judge Dominic Flatley objects to defendant showing up to court drunk, jails him

He claimed he'd had one drink - but the judge said: 'I can smell the alcohol from here'. Photo / 123rf

A defendant who argued with a judge about whether he was intoxicated in court ended up in prison for his trouble.

Shearer Gregor Robin Heka, 55, shearer, of Ranfurly, also said he did not accept the Alexandra District Court as a "court of law", and he had "had a talk with the Solicitor-General" about his case.

Heka had been convicted on November 28 on charges of driving while disqualified and failing to answer bail, and appeared yesterday before Judge Dominic Flatley for sentencing.

But when he started arguing with Judge Flatley as soon as he entered the dock, the judge asked if Heka had had anything to drink.

Heka said he had had "one drink" - but Judge Flatley said "I can smell the alcohol from here" and he would not deal with Heka while he was intoxicated.

He put the sentencing off to another date, and remanded Heka in custody, to reappear in the Alexandra court on June 21.

Heka continued to argue about the status of the Alexandra court, saying he had complained to the Government, and his case would eventually be published in the New Zealand Gazette.