A man who enjoyed a few beers before heading home to watch the rugby was caught drink driving.

Bryce William Clifford Elvy recorded 89 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml when he was stopped by police.

He pleaded guilty when he appearing in the Ashburton District Court on Monday.

Judge Murray Hunt said drivers like Elvy endangered themselves and others while on the road. 

“They run the gambit of whether they’d be caught or not. And you got caught.”

Elvy was convicted and ordered to pay an $800 fine, and was disqualified from driving for a year. 

Cannabis cultivation

Matthew Jeffrey Shurrock was charged with cultivating cannabis and possessing paraphernalia for cannabis use. 

Police found one mature plant and four seedlings in a search on his property.

Shurrock pleaded guilty and accepted what he’d done was wrong.

This was Shurrock’s first conviction, and Judge Hunt said he was unlikely to reoffend. 

Shurrock was sentenced to nine months of supervision and ordered to pay a $250 fine.

Catch-22

A dairy farmer stuck in a “catch-22” situation has been discharged without conviction.

Makasiale Vasu Kauvanua pleaded guilty to missing his court hearing on May 21, breaching bail.

The duty lawyer said Kauvanua was stuck in a “catch-22” as he was required to provide ID to reinstate his licence, but police had his old licence and he had no other form of identification.

The police prosecutor said Waka Kotahi would have gotten rid of it by now. 

Judge Hunt discharged Kauvanua without conviction.

“It’s time he’s moved out of the system.”

Hunt said it was up to Kauvanua to sort out a new licence. 

Driving while disqualified

Dominique Nicole Thomas was charged with driving while suspended on three different occasions.

Judge Hunt said the necessity of caring for family members had caused Thomas to break the law.

Thomas had a history of addiction, but Judge Hunt said she’d turned her life around. 

“You are constructive and really helpful, in terms of the skills you’ve developed.

“I don’t intend to impose more than the minimum disqualification.”

Thomas received 80 hours of community work, and will be disqualified from holding a licence for the next six months. 

Hospital visitor

Graeme Nicholas Butler pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in his system.

He had been at a work barbeque before his brother called to say their mum had taken a turn for the worst.

Butler was stopped by police on his way to the hospital, where he recorded 483 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

The court heard Butler had looked after his mother until she slept each night, which had clouded his judgement.

Judge Hunt said Butler could have asked for a ride from a workmate or his wife, or could simply have not drunk at the barbeque.

He received a fine of $1000 and was disqualified from driving for a year.

Risking residency

Vishavjeet Singh Sidhu was seeking a discharge without conviction for drink-driving.

Sidhu moved to Ashburton in 2019, and brought his wife to New Zealand a few years later. 

Sidhu’s wife may suffer as a result of his actions, Judge Hunt said, as her residency is dependent on Sidhu being in-country.

“Do not make the mistake of doing this again, because you won’t get a second chance.”

Sidhu was convicted, and had his licence disqualified for eight months and was order to pay $600 in fines.

Careless driving

Nathan French faced two charges of careless driving and speaking threateningly.

French caused a car crash after crossing the centre line on the 22nd of December last year.

Judge Hunt told him to keep his temper the next time an accident occurred. 

French was order to pay $500 in reparations to the victim, plus a fine of $250, and faced no driving disqualification.