Mark Phillip Gomes Pires (35) admitted having valium and MDMA in his system when he took his partner’s Audi without consent.
In the Magistrate’s Court this week he admitted driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance and driving while under the influence of drugs, as well as possessing drugs. He was sentenced to 140 hours of community service.
Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris said: ‘I don’t have much confidence in your ability to comply with orders but on balance I will allow you to avoid prison at this stage.
‘Should you not comply with the orders you will be straight back to court and at risk of going to custody.
‘I am a man with more patience than you can possibly imagine, Please take advantage of this.’
Outlining the case, Centenier Paul Huelin, prosecuting, said that at 5.25pm on 29 December, Pires was spotted by a police officer driving a black Audi down Gloucester Street and onto Victoria Avenue.
The officer knew he was disqualified from driving and followed him, before Pires drove through a red light and crossed the white line several times.
Pires told the police he had taken valium before driving and that the car was his partner’s. They had an argument and he took it without permission, the court heard.
Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, said her client pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and the incident was a ‘spur-of-the- moment thing’ that he regretted.
She said her client had grown up in the past year, adding: ‘He is extremely sorry that he finds himself in this situation.’
As well as being sentenced to community service, Pires was also made the subject of a 12-month probation order and was banned from driving for three years.
