Man Sentenced for Drink-Driving Incident That Injured His Dog

David Allan Devenport, a 60-year-old man from New Plymouth, was sentenced on 29 April 2025 for a shocking drink-driving incident that resulted in his dog being dragged along the road. The incident, which occurred on Powderham Street, has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about the intersection of alcohol misuse, public safety, and animal welfare.

According to court records, Devenport was driving a Nissan with his dog in the backseat. However, due to the rear driver’s side window being left down, the dog jumped out of the vehicle while it was in motion. The dog became suspended by her leash and was dragged along the road, suffering injuries as a result. Devenport, who had a breath alcohol level of 972 micrograms per litre—far exceeding the legal limit of 250mcg—was apparently unaware of the dog’s situation. Instead, he responded to the honking and shouts of bystanders by pulling fingers at the motorists.

The incident drew the attention of over a dozen bystanders, who eventually forced Devenport to stop near Currie Street. A member of the public took the dog from the car and drove her to a vet for emergency treatment, while another individual took Devenport’s car keys and alerted the police. Devenport was subsequently charged with driving with excess breath alcohol (third or subsequent offence), driving without a licence, and ill-treatment of an animal. However, the animal ill-treatment charge was later dropped, as the court found that Devenport had no knowledge the dog had jumped out of the car.

In court, Devenport pleaded guilty to the two driving charges. His defence lawyer, Nina Laird, argued that Devenport was unaware of the dog’s situation due to his intoxication and hearing issues. She also highlighted the emotional impact the incident had on him, particularly following the death of his wife. Laird suggested that supervision would be the most appropriate sentence, citing Devenport’s complex health needs and alcohol dependency.

However, the prosecutor, Zane Webby, argued that supervision alone would not be sufficient given the severity of the incident and Devenport’s history of drink-driving, which includes convictions in 2002 and 2023. Judge Lynne Harrison acknowledged the repeated offending and the real, unintended consequence of the dog being injured. She found that Devenport’s gross intoxication had significantly impaired his ability to understand the actions of others and ruled that supervision was inadequate.

As a result, Judge Harrison imposed a five-month community detention sentence and 12 months of supervision. Devenport was also disqualified from driving for one year and one day. He expressed gratitude to the judge as he left the court.

This case has highlighted the dangers of drink-driving not only to human life but also to the well-being of animals. It has also underscored the need for stricter enforcement of drink-driving laws and the importance of addressing alcohol dependency in the community. While the court’s decision to impose community detention and supervision reflects the complexity of Devenport’s situation, it also sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.