The man recently described to us as "one of the most powerful people in news in Australia", Channel Seven's Peter Meakin, has just been sentenced to 14 months periodic detention for drink driving.

The Seven Network's head of news and current affairs, Peter Meakin, has been sentenced to at least 14 months periodic detention for drink driving and dangerous driving.

Meakin, 64, was today also banned from driving for eight years.

The TV news chief, who faces spending his weekends in prison, immediately lodged an appeal.

The offences occurred at North Narrabeen in Sydney on October 4 last year, as Meakin was driving his four-wheel-drive BMW home to Clareville after drinking two bourbons at work.

Meakin accelerated past a random breath testing site in a bid to avoid being pulled over, forcing two police officers off the road, Manly Local Court was told.

He was arrested after a police pursuit and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.10, twice the legal limit.

Meakin, who has twice been caught drink driving in the past, pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving.

Not only slightly shickered, but also cocky enough to attempt to out-run the police? Uh-oh. No doubt rival Channel Nine's A Current Affair team will be having celebratory after work drinks this evening (and arranging for a lot of cabfares).

As one of our associates quipped, "Obviously the judge isn't a big fan of Today Tonight".

Not surprisingly, Meakin's lawyer isn't happy with what he feels is a harsh sentence.

Mr Boulten earlier said his client would "not do it easy in jail'' and it was unthinkable "for somebody to hold a job like he has from jail''.

Who actually does do it easy in jail, though? And has time in the clink ever actually benefited anyone career-wise? Mark 'Chopper' Read being the obvious exception...

 

Tags: au | cops & courts | peter meakin