Listen here to the song that got a teen student off a high-range drink-driving conviction after the judge took a liking to the tune that offender wrote to say sorry
- Alexander David James Grant was pressured by friends to drive drunk in August
- He was pulled over and recorded a blood-alcohol content of more than 0.2
- Grant entered an education program and wrote a song on what he learned
An 18-year-old university student who was caught driving four times over the limit has sung his way out trouble by impressing a judge with a song he wrote about his brush with the law.
Alexander David James Grant appeared in New Zealand's Dunedin District Court on Wednesday after he was pulled over while drink-driving on August 7.
The court heard Grant was pressured by his friends into driving to get some food after a night of drinking, according to 1 News.
Alexander David James Grant (pictured right) was discharged without a conviction after he wrote a remorseful song reflecting on his drink-driving offence
According to the summary of facts, the teenager admitted to consuming around five standard drinks before he was recorded with a blood-alcohol content of over 0.2.
After his offence Grant entered the Right Track program, which is designed to educate at-risk young drivers.
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Grant's lawyer and the prosecution agreed it would be an appropriate case for the defendant to be discharged without conviction
The teenager, also known by his music alias XuzzDoc, had his sentencing delayed last year to allow him to write a song reflecting on his experience.
The song was played in court on Wednesday and left both judge Michael Turner and the prosecution moved.
'You have exceeded my expectations. It's very impressive,' Mr Turner said.
Grant's lawyer and the prosecution agreed it would be an appropriate case for the defendant to be discharged without conviction.
The judge said Grant's actions were irresponsible but agreed not to record his conviction.
'I'm not minimising drink driving and I'm struggling to think when I last used that discretion for a charge of this nature,' Mr Turner said.
'I have no doubt this was a one-off error in judgement where to some extent you were pressured to get behind the wheel and drive by your friends,'.
