Man caught drink driving for the 18th time avoids jail

File photo / NZ Herald

A West Coast man committing his 18th drink-driving offence when overtaking a police car has told a court he didn't stop because he did not want to have to leave his motorbike to the mercy of thieves.

Longjohn William Sheenan, 64, had a breath-alcohol level of 943mg when he finally stopped after a 1.6km pursuit on December 18, Greymouth District Court was told yesterday.

He had ridden through Dobson and was heading towards his Kaiata home when the pursuit began. Sheehan was processed for drink-driving after pulling into his driveway.

He told police he had been drinking at the Rapahoe Hotel and drove home through the back roads of Taylorville and Stillwater to avoid arrest.

Judge Raoul Neave said that the 24-year gap between Sheehan's 17th and 18th drink-driving offences had saved him from jail.

"In normal cases it would be 'straight to jail, do not pass go and certainly do not collect any money,"' the judge said, applying a little Monopoly logic to the case.

"You have not previously offended this century and I am prepared to accept that this was one-off lapse of judgment, although a very silly one. I also accept that you have done your best to put your chequered past behind you."

Sheehan was sentenced to four months' home detention, disqualified from driving for 15 months and fined $500.