A MOTORIST who swerved as he drove along Bath Street late at night and failed to provide a breath specimen at police headquarters has been banned from driving for two years.
Claudio Francisco Freitas Costa (33), who admitted the offence of failing to provide a specimen for analysis, was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service.
The Magistrate’s Court heard that Costa was spotted in Bath Street at 11.25pm on 10 February.
St Helier Centenier Danny Scaife, prosecuting, said: ‘He was driving in an erratic manner. The lights remained off and he was swerving slightly.
‘CCTV then showed Mr Costa standing at the driver’s side door. The vehicle appeared to have broken down.’
He was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving but refused to give a breath test at the station.
Advocate Rui Tremoceiro, defending, said Costa had refused to undergo the test until he could speak to a lawyer.
He added: ‘This was out of character. He has discussed it with his partner and neither of them can understand why he made the decision to drive, because he is extremely careful generally about not driving after consuming any alcohol.’
Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris told Costa he would have to retake the driving test after the two-year ban had elapsed before being allowed to drive again.
