An Islander caught driving her motorcycle while over the alcohol limit for the second time in five years has been spared jail despite a “presumption of custody” for repeat drink-driving.
Rosie Haigh (33) was pulled over for a road check in St Saviour on 27 June and found to be driving her 125cc KSR motorbike while over the legal alcohol limit.
A breathalyser test undertaken at the scene provided a reading of 57 micrograms per 100ml of breath, in excess of the 35µg100ml limit.
Centenier Seamus Friel, prosecuting, told the Magistrate’s Court that Haigh had previous convictions for speeding in November 2025, and driving a motor vehicle whilst over the limit in February 2021.
Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, accepted that his client had committed two drink-driving offence within ten years and was therefore subject to a “presumption of custody”.
But he instead asked that the court grant a probation order, citing the relatively low levels of intoxication involved in the two relevant offences.
“My client was riding a light motorcycle,” he pointed out. “She was more likely to be a danger to herself [than the public].”
Assistant Magistrate Adam Clarke, presiding, said Haigh’s offending passed the custody threshold, but opted to hand her 120 hours of community service.
“Had the level of intoxication been higher, that is not a conclusion I would have reached,” he told her.
The defendant was also disqualified from driving for 42 months.
