A MAGISTRATE has sharply rebuked a leading regional employer over the number of its workers facing drink driving charges.

Magistrate Mark Richardson took aim at Costa Tomato Farm management - based at Guyra - to "get their act together" and to be "more rigorous" when accepting overseas workers.

"I deal with about 40 of these [offences] a month from these premises, they should get their act together, this is not the first time someone from Costa has been convicted of drink driving," Mr Richardson said in Armidale Local Court on Monday, September 30.

The magistrate made his comments after hearing the case of 47-year-old Michel David, a worker from Vanuatu.

David, of Guyra, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving when his driver visiting privileges had been wit

See Full Page