Former NZ Idol judge living in his car, found guilty of drink driving
Paul Ellis at a New Zealand music function. Photo: Norrie Montgomery via Open Justice By Tracy Neal, Open Justice multimedia journalist
Paul Ellis, a former prominent figure in the Kiwi music industry, is back in court on more driving charges - this time after being caught nearly seven times the legal alcohol limit.
Ellis pleaded guilty in the Nelson District Court today to driving with excess breath alcohol on a third or subsequent time after blowing 1688 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 250mcg.
He was also convicted of driving while disqualified.
According to a summary of facts, police tracked Ellis down on the morning of February 21 after investigating a report that someone had collided with a parked vehicle in the Nelson suburb of Tāhunanui.
Police followed a clear trail of vehicle fluid from the crash-damaged vehicle that led directly to the front passenger wheel of Ellis' vehicle, which was parked on a nearby street.
Ellis, exhibiting signs that he had been drinking, admitted he was a disqualified driver.
An evidential breath test followed and showed a reading which was 6.7 times the limit.
Ellis told the police that he had been living in his car at Nelson's Isel Park. He had been drinking wine but the crash was an 'oversight' he had not been aware of.
It is not the 62-year-old's first time before the courts.
In November 2023 he was convicted in the Blenheim District Court for driving while disqualified, fined $400 and given a six-month disqualification.
He was also granted leave to apply for an alcohol interlock licence at the time. But, police said he failed to do this, which meant that when he was caught in February this year, he was still driving as a disqualified driver.
Ellis was also convicted in the same court in June 2018 on two separate charges, 10 days apart of driving with excess blood alcohol.
He was convicted again in May 2022 on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time.
Ellis was born in Timaru but grew up in Picton, and moved back to the region in 2020 when he helped organise the Linkwater Summer Sounds Music Festivals.
He had a successful career in the music industry as a producer and manager and had worked with international music stars, including several from New Zealand.
Ellis was a Sony Music executive living in New York at the time of 9/11 and was a judge on the first two NZ Idol seasons, before appearing as a judge on New Zealand's Got Talent in 2008.
Ellis was remanded on bail for sentencing in August. His earlier request for name suppression lapsed today.
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