Man who rolled ute was 3 times limit | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

A Waikite Valley man who drove into a ditch and was found to be driving with a breath-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit, has at least two previous convictions for drink-driving, the Rotorua District Court has heard.

Ashley Roger Alistair Brown, 37, engineer, appeared in the Rotorua District Court this week and pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with 1254mcg of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.

Brown also pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Richard van Aren Donk said that on March 22, 2006, Brown had been convicted in the Rotorua District Court for drink-driving for at least the third time.

About 8.10pm on January 25 this year, Brown was seen by police driving a ute on Waikite Valley Rd, which had a 100km/h speed limit.

Police saw Brown approaching them about 1km north of Waikite Valley Thermal Pools.

His vehicle was swerving from side to side, crossing the centre line and Brown was seen concentrating intently, gripping the steering wheel with both hands as he drove past police at speed.

The officers turned around and followed Brown and lost sight of him for a time. They then saw his car upright in a ditch with the roof of the cab almost squashed flat, with Brown inside. He was seen climbing from the driver's seat to the passenger's seat as he tried to get out of the vehicle. Police yelled to him to see if he was injured but he was not.

Police asked Brown if he was drunk and he said he was.

He was breath tested and found to have a level of 1254mcg of alcohol per litre of breath.

Mr van Aren Donk said an examination by police found that Brown had driven off to the left side of the road and up a dirt bank. The vehicle had rolled on to its roof and into the ditch.

Brown told police he was relieved he did not hit another car on the road.

Judge Arthur Tompkins said the last time Brown appeared in court he was given a final warning and he asked Brown what he thought that meant.

"The next time I would be going to jail," Brown replied. His offending was a disgrace and he had let everyone down again, he said. "Basically I deserve what I get."

Judge Tompkins remanded him on bail for sentencing on March 22 and requested a pre-sentence report as well a report on the suitability of home detention.

As part of his bail conditions, Brown has been banned from drinking alcohol and entering licensed premises. He was also told not to drive while suspended.