Driving ban for 40 years

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 4

Driving ban for 40 years

PA Hamilton A 40-year driving ban has been imposed on a Hamilton man with nine convictions for drink-driv-ing and 20 for disqualified driving. “That should see you out,” Judge Green told Kevin John Wyatt when he appeared in the District Court at Hamilton. Wyatt, aged 33, unemployed, who was jailed for an effective term of 18 months, appeared for sentence on three charges each of driving with an excess breath-alcohol level and disqualified driving. The levels were 350 micrograms, 800 micrograms and 1000 micrograms. Judge Green said Wyatt had six previous drinkdriving convictions and 17

for disqualified driving. “You are to be pitied for your alcoholism, but being an alcoholic does not require you to drive a vehicle,” Judge Green said. “I am not going to shut my eyes to your persistent offending,” he said. A 10-year driving disqualification and three months jail were imposed on Mark Strange, aged 22, a pathlayer, who pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with an excess bloodalcohol level of 83 milligrams. It was his fifth drink driving conviction, the Court was told. Judge Green said that three months jail was the maximum penalty for drink-driving even if the offender had previous convictions.