A DRINK-DRIVER who was pulled over by police while having empty beer cans in the footwell of his car has been fined and banned from the road.
Wayne Mason (34) was driving along St Clement Coast Road on Friday 19 June when he was pulled over, the Magistrate’s Court was told.
Officers could smell alcohol and, during the conversation, Mason told them he had been drinking in the morning. A four-pack of beer was found in the footwell of the car.
Centenier Joao Camara, prosecuting, said that a breath test revealed a reading of 58 micrograms per 100 millilitres – above the limit of 35 micrograms.
Mason pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.
The court heard that Mason worked for a company that makes home furnishings and that he would lose his job if he could not drive to customers’ homes.
Advocate James Bell, defending, told the court that alcohol had been “problematic” for Mason in recent times.
“On this occasion, he had consumed some beer that morning,” Advocate Bell said. “He misjudged the effect of that alcohol. With hindsight, he realises that he should not have driven at all as a result of that alcohol.”
Relief Magistrate David Cadin, presiding, told Mason that programmes run by the Probation Service could help him tackle his relationship with alcohol.
He disqualified him from driving for three years, fined him £1,250 and imposed a six-month probation order. Mason will have to retake his test before he can drive again.
