A Queenstown woman caught drink-driving twice in a day with ‘‘exceptionally high’’ breath alcohol levels has been given a chance to address her alcohol dependence.
When Mila Georgievna Turnbull was first stopped by police on August 4, her breath-alcohol reading was 1104mcg, more than four times the legal limit.
When the 41-year-old was pulled over again five hours later, it was 1592mcg — over six times the limit and one of the highest levels recorded in the Southern police district in recent years.
She was also breaching an alcohol interlock sentence imposed two months earlier after being caught driving with a level of 1476mcg.
Sentencing Turnbull in Queenstown’s court on Monday, Judge Catriona Doyle warned her there were few sentencing options left if she kept offending, with prison being one.
Turnbull was stopped by the cops about 8.30am on August 4 after she was seen driving in Lower Shotover Rd.
She told the officer she had been drinking with friends the night before.
At 3.30pm, she was pulled over on Stalker Rd after her driving showed signs of intoxication.
Her breath-alcohol reading was even higher than that morning’s.
Doyle suppressed details of why the defendant decided to drive again that afternoon.
Turnbull got her first drink-driving conviction after she was caught with a breath-alcohol level of 1476mcg on May 26.
On that occasion, a concerned motorist called the cops after seeing her driving erratically on Ladies Mile Highway about 11am.
Turnbull, who’d been on her way to work, told the officer she’d drunk two bottles of bubbly at a party the night before, but felt ‘‘absolutely fine’’ to drive.
Counsel Louise Denton said the alcohol interlock sentence from the defendant’s first conviction wasn’t recorded by the New Zealand Transport Agency due to an ‘‘administrative oversight’’.
The defendant had been unable to resolve the issue by telephone with the agency, partly because of language difficulties.
She had continued driving despite being suspended until she had an interlock fitted to her car.
Doyle said the ‘‘exceptionally high’’ breath-alcohol levels, and repetitive nature of the offending, indicated the defendant had a problem with alcohol dependence.
Her sentence would be rehabilitative, enabling Turnbull to address the problem while continuing to work.
Turnbull was convicted and sentenced to 120 hours’ community work and 12 months’ supervision, with a condition she complete an addiction programme.
She’s disqualified from driving until she gets an alcohol interlock fitted to her car.
Other sentences
● Matthew Gene Cooper, 28, apprentice builder, of Queenstown, fishing without a licence, obstructing a fisheries officer, January 17, Twelve Mile Delta, fined $1500, prosecution costs $500.
● Emily Catherine Paul, 37, gardener, of Queenstown, assault in a family relationship, May 5, Queenstown, discharged without conviction.
● Thomas James Aspin, 30, gib stopper, of Queenstown, assault, June 11, discharged without conviction, emotional harm reparation $500.
● Noe Benoit Jean Szewc, 26, builder, French national, of Frankton, dangerous driving causing injury, drink-driving causing injury (173mg), Kawarau Rd, July 1, Queenstown, reparation $6742.51, emotional harm reparation $500, medical and analysis fees $373.98, disqualified two years.
● Mitchell Jon Cameron, 39, building company owner, of Glenorchy, disorderly behaviour, October 14, Queenstown, fined $500.
● Jayden Ross Davison, 24, landscaper, of Albert Town, aggravated disqualified driving, Plantation Rd, July 19; disqualified driving, Gunn
Rd, August 23; disqualified driving, Ardmore St, August 24, 120 hours’ community work, fined $200, disqualified six months.
● Wiremu Erueni James-Barrett, 27, chef, of Albert Town, unlawfully in a building, April 13, Wānaka; burglary, April 14, Wānaka (both
jointly with Jesse Hare), 200 hours’ community work, reparation $1625.40, 12 months’ supervision.
● Jesse Hare, 30, of Albert Town, unlawfully in a building, April 13, Wānaka; burglary, April 14, Wānaka (both jointly with Wiremu James-
Barrett), 200 hours’ community work, reparation $1625.40, 12 months’ supervision.
● Nikola Taficukova, 32, of Albert Town, assault in a family relationship, May 12, discharged without conviction.
● Matthew Lindsay Tayles, 30, tractor driver, of Waipounamu, drink-driving (98mg), Mull St, Glenorchy, July 29, fined $750, medical expenses $111.99, disqualified six months.
● Matthew Jason Beazley, 45, builder, of Wānaka, drink-driving (687mcg), Plantation Rd, September 2, fined $700, disqualified six months.
