IT took more than eight years for Achim Sperling to regain his licence but just four days to be stripped of it.
The Hamilton man this week pleaded guilty to drink- driving on November 28 last year - four days after regaining his licence.
Sperling, 51, of Bree Road, was stopped by police about 4.19am after using his car's indicators along a straight street and turning the headlights on and off for no apparent reason. Hamilton Magistrates Court heard he admitted to consuming seven mixed spirit drinks but said their alcohol content had increased as the evening wore on. A breath test returned a result of .086.
Defence counsel Noel Kennedy said his client, a recovering alcoholic, had lost his licence for drink-driving in 2001 but chose not to reapply for it until last year.
"He has a significant criminal history, but he's of the view that he's now put all those matters behind him," Mr Kennedy said. In convicting Sperling, magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said he should have been more aware of alcohol's effects.
The magistrate also fined Sperling $1500 and disqualified his licence for two years.
Mr Klestadt convicted the 51-year-old.
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