Nigel Richard Coombes pleaded guilty to his eighth drink driving charge and his 18th count of driving while disqualified.
Nigel Richard Coombes pleaded guilty to his eighth drink driving charge and his 18th count of driving while disqualified.
A Wairarapa 43-year-old logging subcontractor who has pleaded guilty to his eighth drink-driving charge has been warned he'll be off to jail if he breaches his curfew before going into alcohol rehabilitation treatment.
Before Judge Barbara Morris recently, Nigel Richard Coombes also pleaded guilty to his 18th offence of drivingwhile disqualified but won't be sentenced until he has completed a Bridge programme.
Coombes was last convicted of drink-driving in May 2011 and the following year received a further disqualification of his licence for one year and one day, to take effect from 21 February 2014, when his current disqualification period expired.
On February 27 about 6.30pm, Coombes was driving a ute on the Rimutaka Hill towards Featherston, crossing the double yellow lines on to the wrong side of the road on every bend between the summit and the bottom of the hill, the police summary provided to the Times-Age by Judge Morris states.
On the straight sections of road he was unable to maintain a straight line, drifting across the centre line. When stopped by police his eyes were glazed, he was unsteady on his feet and smelt of alcohol. He also spoke loudly and his mood swung between friendly and annoyed and he tried play-fighting with police, the summary states.
Breath-tested Coombes produced an alcohol reading of 755mcg of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit for an adult is 400mcg.
Lawyer Frank Minehan said his client had sought help from CareNZ and provided a letter to the court from the Bridge programme stating Coombes would be starting the residential course this month.
Judge Morris said it was good Coombes was facing up to his alcohol problem.
She remanded him on bail for a pre-sentence report to be completed, with Coombes subject to a 24-hour curfew unless at work. He is also not to consume or possess alcohol. "If you breach these conditions there will be no option but to remand you in custody."
