Seven: Meakin loses driving appeal

Seven News boss Peter Meakin has lost an appeal against his dangerous driving conviction today.

He had previously pleaded guilty to drink driving but appealed against the second charge.

Judge Helen Morgan found that Meakin had indeed driven dangerously, saying, “He determined to keep going to avoid undertaking a breath test.

“At the time, he was concerned that the alcohol he had consumed placed him close to being over the legal limit and, in his own words, he certainly did not want to be caught,” she said.

She found he made no attempt to brake or slow down, and accelerated despite being signalled to pull over by police.

UPDATE: In a second hearing this afternoon Meakin had his sentence overturned. The judge has altered a maximum 14-month weekend jail term to 250 hours of community service.

He previously lost his licence for DUI and had only been back on the road a few months before this incident.

Meakin was arrested at North Narrabeen in October 2006 following a police pursuit and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.10.

He was supported in court by Chief Executive David Leckie.

Source: The Australian.
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