A man blamed a sticking accelerator and relationship problems for his 12th drink-driving and fourth driving while disqualified charge.
Robert William Ellison, 52, was remanded in custody when he appeared in the Greymouth District Court on Tuesday and will be sentenced on March 8.
On September 11, he was driving through Hokitika at speed, with no headlights on, forcing an oncoming car to take evasive action as he emerged out of the darkness.
Ellison lost control of his vehicle and crashed through a fence, colliding with the front of a house.
He fled the scene but was later apprehended by police, who breath tested him and found his breath alcohol was 625mg. His car had also not been inspected since 1998.
