KEY POINTS:
A Waihi man's first alcoholic drink in 10 years proved to be too much for him when he was caught drink-driving at nearly three times over the legal limit.
Balihar Singh, 39, appeared in Tauranga District Court this week.
Through defence lawyer Craig Tuck, Singh claimed he had not drunk alcohol for a decade before the March 30 incident.
The court was told that after an afternoon of cricket, Singh drank whisky then got into his car.
His erratic driving through Tauranga nearly ran another car off the road, and he entered Maungatapu roundabout against the traffic flow.
When the other car tried to overtake him, Singh passed the car on the inside hard shoulder. The other driver called 111, and l police stopped Singh at Te Puna on State Highway 2.
A blood-test showed Singh had 234mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg. Singh is to be sentenced on July 15.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
