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Pregnant New Zealand mother jailed on eighth drunk driving charge

May 14, 2009, 10:30 GMT

Wellington - A New Zealand woman was sent to prison for a year on Thursday after being charged with drunk driving for the eighth time when she was seven months pregnant. Rachael Brown, 38, recorded 994 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath - nearly two-and-a-half times the legal limit - when she was arrested after dodging a police checkpoint in Rotorua in July, the local court was told. Brown, who was permanently banned from driving in 2005, was also convicted of driving without a licence for the 15th time. She had two passengers in the car at the time and told police she was driving because she was the least drunk of the three. She was due to be sentenced in the Rotorua District Court on Wednesday morning but the judge said she was too drunk and ordered her held in the cells overnight to sober up. 'At least you're now in a position to understand what I'm saying,' Judge James Weir told Brown on Thursday, ordering her to serve a minimum six months in jail and receive treatment for her alcohol problem when released. Reports said a family member was caring for the baby that Brown was expecting at the time of her arrest.

Asia-Pacific News

Pregnant New Zealand mother jailed on eighth drunk driving charge

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