A HAMILTON man with two prior drink driving convictions has pleaded guilty after being caught under the influence of alcohol whilst driving on a probationary licence.

31-year-old Jeremy Grant appeared at the Hamilton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to answer to the drink driving charge.

Police Prosecutor leading senior constable, Greg Kew, told the court that on October 19 last year at about 11.55pm, Grant was intercepted on Tyers Street, Hamilton, produced a probationary licence and failed a preliminary breath test.

The court was told he accompanied police to the Hamilton Police Station where a follow up evidentiary breath test showed a blood alcohol concentration reading of .119.

Grant said he had drunk four Carlton Dry long necks.

Noel Kennedy represented Grant and said his client was a hard worker with dependants.

Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge told Grant that if he wanted to use alcohol to destress, “there is no law against that - that’s up to you”.

“What there is a law against, is getting drunk and getting behind the wheel of a car,” he said. 

“You pose a real risk to the community when you are over .05.

“In addition, you were meant to have a reading of double zero.”

Magistrate Lethbridge fined Grant $1000 with conviction and disqualified him from driving for 30 months effective from October 20, 2022.