Former New Zealand Idol judge Paul Ellis has been sentenced to four months home detention after driving seven times over the legal limit earlier this year.

Open Justice report Ellis appeared in the Nelson District Court for sentencing today after his previous hearing was delayed.

Speaking outside court, he says he was having a bad day and made some bad choices.

Ellis was already a disqualified driver at the time of the incident, and was disqualified again today, indefinitely.

He says he has come a long way since that day - and credits Alcohol and Addiction services in Nelson for helping him.