
A Hamilton man caught drink-driving at more than five times the legal limit was on a zero-alcohol licence after months earlier being busted at a similar level.
Deepak Jhajhria was caught driving with 1415 micrograms (mcg) of alcohol per litre of breath in February this year, just three months after being sentenced for registering 1511mcg.
The legal limit is 250mcg.
At about 10.20pm on Friday, February 13 this year, Jhajhria was driving along River Rd when he spotted a police checkpoint.
In an attempt to avoid police, he turned up a long shared driveway.
He was caught and breath-tested and returned a breath alcohol level of 1415mcgs.
It came just months after Jhajhria was sentenced in November to supervision and community detention for blowing 1511mcg and ordered to fit an alcohol interlock device.
An interlock is a breath-testing device that is wired into a vehicle鈥檚 starting system. The driver must blow into it before the vehicle will start.
Police inspected his car last month and found the interlock had not been fitted.
When questioned, he initially denied having anything to drink.
He then said he鈥檇 had a 鈥渂ottle of vodka and gone for a drive鈥.
鈥榊ou have a massive alcohol problem鈥
The 35-year-old appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Monday on charges of driving at over 250mcgs on an alcohol interlock device and driving contrary to the interlock licence.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and was convicted by Judge Noel Cocurullo, who was not impressed by his behaviour.
鈥淵ou have a complete inability to not drink alcohol and then drive,鈥 the judge told Jhajhria.
鈥淵ou have a massive alcohol problem.
鈥淵ou need to get real about your situation.
鈥淵ou are wrong when you say there鈥檚 no issue. You are wrong.鈥
Judge Cocurullo remanded Jhajhria on bail for a drug and alcohol assessment.
He also ordered him not to drive.
鈥淵ou are warned that if you drive, you will be arrested and brought before the court and sent to prison before these matters are dealt with.鈥
Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato. She has worked at 九一星空无限 for 10 years and has been a journalist for 21.
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