A MAN who was caught driving after drinking three whiskies – and was then captured on CCTV stealing a bag four weeks later – has been fined rather than imprisoned because he is working hard to support his family.
Nelson Pinto (27) was stopped by the States police on the evening of 24 June in La Motte Street after officers noted the condition of his car.
Legal adviser Paul Lee, prosecuting, told the Magistrate’s Court that the vehicle had a noisy exhaust and a defective rear light.
Officers spoke to him and Mr Lee said: “He was intoxicated and his eyes were glazed. He said he had had three whiskies.”
A breath test gave a reading of 40 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, above the legal maximum of 35 micrograms.
On 23 July, Mr Lee added, Pinto was making a delivery to a location in Hilary Street and found a box in a communal area.
CCTV recorded him opening the box, taking a bag from inside it, and placing the item into his own bag. The bag he took was worth £88 and has not been recovered.
Pinto admitted driving while above the legal alcohol limit and theft.
Advocate George Pearce, defending, said of the drink-driving: “Mr Pinto only intended to drive a very short distance.”
Of the theft of the bag, he added: “It was an opportunistic offence. Mr Pinto thinks it was a childish action and a stupid mistake.”
He said Pinto had three children and had been working long hours in different jobs to support his family.
Assistant Magistrate Sarah Fitz said she was “prepared to be lenient”.
She fined him £800 for drinking and driving and banned him from the roads for a year.
He will have to retake his driving test before being allowed to drive again.
She also fined him £300 for theft and ordered him to pay £88 compensation for the missing bag. He has been allowed to pay £100 per month.
