Drink driving lands trotting identity in court

Harness racing was in the news for all the wrong reasons today when well known trotting identity Vicki Purdon was sentenced for her fourth drink-driving conviction.

Vicki owns a half share in in the champion racehorse Christen Me who is the current Australasian Grand Circuit champion and who is well on his way to retaining his title after wins in the Miracle Mile and Victoria Cup  recently which took his earnings to $1,923,091

Vicki who lives at Rolleston near Christchurch was nearly three times over the legal limit when she was stopped while driving her $80,000 Audi in Rolleston on July 27 last year.

She walked home after drinking wine over dinner at The Rock, Rolleston but then returned about 2 am to retrieve her car.

Police stopped her in the bar's car park when they saw her trying to drive off 

An evidential blood test returned a result of 233 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

The legal limit is 80mg/L.

Judge Tony Couch didn't mince his words when addressing Vicki.

"You were seriously drunk, and by inference a very real danger on the road". he said

Defence counsel informed Judge Couch that Vicki, a radiographic assistant at Christchurch Hospital, had self referred herself for treatment through the City Mission, and had sought psychological help for her drinking problems. 

She was making steady progress and was committed to helping herself overcome her drinking problems

Vicki has had previous drink-driving convictions in 2001, 2008, and 2011.

Judge Couch  sentenced her to four months of community detention at her Rolleston home, where she will be subject to a nightly curfew.

That would be followed by nine months of supervision by the Probation Service and the indefinite loss of her licence.

Judge Couch allowed Vicki to sell her Audi rather than have it confiscated, but she will not be allowed to own another vehicle for a year.

Harnesslink Media