Jose Pereira Gouveia (26), of Hilary Street, committed the offence on 9 December on Mount Bingham. When he blew into the intoximeter at police headquarters he gave a reading of 112 mcg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcg.
Outlining the case in the Magistrate’s Court, Centenier Paul Huelin said that at 4.50 pm officers in an unmarked police car were driving towards Mount Bingham when they noticed a white Renault Clio with the brake lights stuck on. They followed the vehicle and then watched as it pulled over at the top of Mount Bingham and stopped without signalling.
When an officer went to speak to the driver, he could not smell alcohol but he noted that Gouveia was unable to hold a conversation.
The Centenier said that as the officers suspected Gouveia was driving while impaired, he
was taken to the force’s headquarters.
Advocate Hiren Mistry, defending, said that the defendant had lived in the Island for only a month and initially came with his girlfriend but she could not get a job and now lives in France with their child.
As part of his bail conditions the defendant was made the subject of a curfew from 10 pm until 6 am. He was also banned from leaving the Island and was handed an immediate interim driving ban.
The Magistrate, Bridget Shaw, said: ‘This was a very high reading of alcohol and the court will consider all sentencing options, including custody.’
The sentencing hearing is due to take place on 17 January.
