Repeat drink driver spurned lift home

Featherston dairy farmer Wade Michael Churchward, 34, has six previous drink driving convictions.

After crashing in to a ditch while drink-driving, Wade Michael Churchward told police; "he didn't know why he was driving because he could have asked several people to drive him home".

The 34-year-old dairy farmer of Featherston crashed into a ditch at Featherston and was nearly three times the legal alcohol limit with a breath alcohol reading of 1100mcg of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.

Appearing before Judge Peter Hobbs in Masterton District Court earlier this week Churchward, who has six previous drink driving convictions, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink driving.

The police summary of facts provided to the Times-Age by the judge, states on Saturday, March 8 just before 8pm, Churchward was driving south of State Highway 2 near Featherston, driving at speed and swerving within the left lane and into oncoming traffic.

He then turned a couple of times at speed on the highway, losing control of the car which crashed into a ditch.

Police were called and with Churchward showing signs of being drunk he was breath tested, producing the "high reading" of 1100mcg.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Jodi Lawrence said he admitted to police he shouldn't have been driving.

"He stated that he had been drinking and driving and that he didn't know why because he could have asked several people for a ride home."

When Churchward first stood in the dock defence lawyer Ian Hard said he admitted drink driving but denied dangerous driving.

Judge Hobbs convicted Churchward on the two counts and remanded him on bail for a pre-sentence report and sentencing on July 24.