An international rugby league star drove drunk in central Auckland before crashing and being thrown into the windscreen, a court has heard.
Peni Hillip Terepo, who plays for the NRL's Parramatta Eels, today pleaded guilty to careless driving and refusing to give a blood alcohol test.
During sentencing today at Auckland District Court, the court heard that Terepo crashed his car while driving along Parnell Rise on January 8.
After police arrived, the 25-year-old was asked to give a blood alcohol reading. However, the Auckland-born Tongan international player refused.
Community Magistrate Leigh Langridge said Terepo, who was supported in court by his mum, was "significantly intoxicated".
"It was some type of accident, police noted you did significant damage to your car and were thrown into the windscreen.
"It sounds like you were very lucky you weren't more hurt."
Terepo's lawyer argued her client, who was flying out of New Zealand tomorrow, gave an early guilty plea in the hope of dealing with the matter quickly.
"He made an error of judgment and is truly remorseful for what he has done," she said.
Terepo, who has a wife and two young children, wished to apply for a discharge without conviction, but Langridge convicted him, fined him $500, ordered him to pay $130 in court costs and disqualified him from driving for seven months.
When approached by the Herald outside court, Terepo declined to comment about his case.
The 186cm forward has played 74 NRL games for Parramatta since he debuted during the 2013 season, and played in 23 games last year.
He also played for the Eels' NRL Auckland Nines winning sqaud last year, and has played several games for Tonga, including at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup in England and Wales.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11789982
Replies
not good. won't be upset if the club decided to release him
Next!
The NRL will step in and rip up he contract now and fine us $100000000000 and take 26 points off us
ILL BE BACK
i think you forgot a zero in you fine and points Pauly
I'm expecting Peni to come very close to being sacked by the club.
The club has got to take a stand. It's the third alcohol related incident inside a month. Fuck.
I reckon the club may sack him - wouldn't be surprised either way though.
What has to be considered is the nature of the offence from a community point of view. He's lucky he didn't injure of kill himself, but more importantly he's lucky he didn't kill an innocent bystander or motorist.
There's no excuse in 2017 for getting pissed and getting behind the wheel.
I'm sure he's a lovely bloke, but he needs to be accountable, take responsibility, and be sacked.
it's not the worst casualty considering our depth in competition up front......he'll be considered a scapegoat but a stand needs to be taken considering current circumstances.
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