A Southland man has narrowly avoided jail after he appeared in court on his eighth drink-driving charge. A Southland man who appeared in court on his eighth drink-driving charge and tenth charge of driving while disqualified has narrowly avoided imprisonment. Judge John Brandts-Giesen said Owen-Cooper was already a disqualified driver when police spotted his vehicle in the main street of Mataura at 12.24am on February 24. Brandts-Giesen said Owen-Cooper c had a falling out with the driver and had decided to drive home. That bought him to a term of 13 months’ imprisonment, which he converted to six months and two weeks of home detention.

Source: Stuff September 15, 2021 03:33 UTC