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A judge in the Timaru District Court has reminded a Timaru man of the consequences of continued driving while disqualified convictions. (File photo)
A Timaru man has been warned jail is likely if he continues to rack up disqualified driving convictions.
Paul James McGinnis admitted his fourth driving while disqualified charge, and his third in nine months, when he appeared before Judge Tom Gilbert in the Timaru District Court on Tuesday.
The 55-year-old was in Kaiapoi on January 28, 2023, when he was pulled over by police for failing to stop at a rail crossing stop sign.
His two other recent driving while disqualified convictions were in May and October 2022.
Lawyer John Black said his client, who does not now drink alcohol, had been out with friends and was the only sober driver, and “had made the stupid decision to drive”.
Judge Gilbert warned McGinnis that with “another” driving conviction he would “likely end up with an ankle bracelet which will significantly restrict your activities”.
“After that you are likely to end up in prison, so you need to start taking this seriously.”
Judge Gilbert cancelled McGinnis’s current sentence of 80 hours community work and replaced it with one of 100 hours community work. McGinnis was also disqualified for a further 12 months from May 31, 2024, when his current disqualification ends.
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