Man stops for beer on way to drink driving sentencing

File photo / NZ Herald

A Rotorua man with nine drink-driving convictions has been reprimanded by a judge after stopping to have a beer on his way to court.

Timoti Mac Herewini, 59, appeared in the Rotorua District Court for sentencing yesterday after previously pleading guilty to drink-driving on March 30, Rotorua's Daily Post reported.

Judge Chris McGuire suspected Herewini had been drinking and stood him down in custody.

A breath test was positive for alcohol.

Herewini later told the court he had stopped at a bar and had a beer to "cool his nerves".

When Judge McGuire asked Herewini why he did not have had a drink of water instead, Herewini said he had not thought of that.

Herewini was sentenced to six months' community detention, 200 hours' community work, six months' supervision and was disqualified from driving for 18 months.

- NZPA