Blackcaps fast bowler Doug Bracewell has been sentenced to 100 hours community work and disqualified from driving for 12 months for his third drink-driving offence.
Appearing before Judge Bridget Mackintosh in Hastings District Court on Thursday, Bracewell was sentenced under provisions for offenders who already have two or more drink-driving convictions.
Pulled over back in March, Bracewell recorded a breath-alcohol reading of 783mcg. The legal limit is 250mcg.
The court heard Bracewell had been drinking at a function before his distressed partner called to tell him their pet cockatoo had been killed by dogs they had been looking after. The Central Districts bowler then got behind the wheel to drive home to comfort her.
According to the New Zealand Herald, Bracewell's defence counsel Ron Mansfield said the offending had not arisen out of disregard for road rules but out of "genuine concern" for his partner.
Mansfield said Bracewell acknowledged how serious the offence was and understood that he had let himself, his family and New Zealand Cricket down.
"This offending in my submissions should be seen as an unfortunate hiccup and something that doesn't reflect the man he has become or the sportsman."
Bracewell said he had made an "extremely bad call" to drive home from a function after a "personal and urgent issue arose at home".
"I should have made a better call as to how to get home, and didn't. I was just worried and drove. I accept that mistake."
New Zealand Cricket said they recognised the penalty handed down to Bracewell and they wouldn't be taking any further action.
"NZC notes Mr Bracewell suffered a serious leg injury in February and is unlikely to resume his competitive cricket career until next summer," a statement read.
"Under these circumstances, and considering the penalty imposed in the Hastings District Court today, NZC will be taking no further punitive action."
Compounding Bracewell's case was his two previous drink driving charges with the first one coming in 2008 when he was just 18-years-old.
The second one then came in 2010 when he was 20, sentenced to six months' supervision and disqualified from driving for eight months.
Newshub.
