Daniel Filipe Pereira Baptista (42), of Havre des Pas, drove his partner’s car on 6 April in St Saviour because she had drunk too much alcohol and could not drive, the Magistrate’s Court heard.
But he swerved onto the wrong side of the road and was stopped by the police, who discovered that he had no licence or insurance.
He had previously admitted to similar charges three times and Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris sentenced him to three months in prison because of his repeat offending.
He said: ‘You are someone who has been driving for many years not in accordance with the law.
‘A first-time offender would get community service, but you are far from a first-time offender.’
Centenier Christian Julé, prosecuting, explained that Baptista was stopped by the police near the offices of the Jersey Evening Post, after being spotted crossing the centre white line while driving well below the speed limit.
He told officers that he had no insurance and that he was driving because his wife was over the drink-drive limit. Advocate Estelle Burns, defending, said her client realised he had been very stupid and driving had not been planned.
She added that he had tried to get a taxi but his phone had no battery, so he decided to drive.
The advocate said that if Baptista was to be jailed it would have a devastating impact on his family, and he apologised to the court.
She added: ‘He intends to never drive again in the future.’
Mr Harris said the offence had crossed the custody threshold.
He also banned him from driving for two years.
