Man wheel spins way to court

A 28-year-old Masterton man has been convicted of drink-driving and sustained loss of traction in a vehicle causing injury.

Stephen Gordon Thompson pleaded guilty to both charges when he appeared in the Masterton District Court on Tuesday.

On September 10 at 9.20pm, Thompson was driving a Nissan on West Bush Rd, Masterton, with two others in the vehicle.

Sergeant Garry Wilson said West Bush Rd was a rural area with a 100km/h speed limit.

Frequent complaints had been made of boy-racer activity in the area.

On the day in question, Thompson revved the Nissan's engine, causing the rear tyres to lose traction and the vehicle to turn 360 degrees as the tyres spun on the wet road.

He then turned to travel east on to Skeets Rd, accelerating rapidly. While doing so, the vehicle veered on to the grass verge and rolled on its roof, taking out more than 40 metres of wire fence. The vehicle eventually came to a stop on its wheels.

The front-seat passenger required hospital treatment. The defendant and the rear-seat passenger fled but were tracked by police to a nearby address.

Police took a breath sample from Thompson which returned a positive reading of 833 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, more than twice the legal limit.

Thompson, who had previously appeared in court, initially said he was a passenger.

There were disputed facts over an additional charge and the matter was adjourned until January 11, when Thompson will be sentenced.