First offender Aiden Bailey McDermott (18), of Route de St Aubin, admitted driving while over the limit in Aubin Lane in St Saviour and possessing cannabis and cocaine.
The Magistrate’s Court heard that he had lost his job as a result of the crime and, in sentencing, the Magistrate, Bridget Shaw, said: ‘This is a pretty disastrous start to your driving career.’
Outlining the case, Centenier Mike Byrne said that at about 11.20 pm on 17 March, a police officer in a patrol car was leaving the States police’s headquarters when he saw a car travelling at speed towards Howard Davis Park.
The police vehicle caught up at the traffic lights but when the signal changed the car accelerated hard and the police car pursued it,’ said the Centenier.
The officer activated the blue lights but McDermott continued to drive away at speed. The officer then activated the siren and McDermott turned right into Aubin Lane and came to a stop.
The defendant failed a roadside breath test, giving a reading of 56 mcg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcg.
He was also found to be in possession of 88 mg of cocaine and 382 mg of cannabis.
Advocate Adam Harrison, defending, said that McDermott did not intend to drive home but had had a disagreement with friends and naively decided to get behind the wheel.
The court heard that the defendant had sold his car for £600 and was putting that money immediately toward paying the fines. In sentencing, the Magistrate said: ‘You are still very young and it is not the end of the world.’
However, she said that this should be a message to ‘you and your friends of what will happen if you drink and drive and take drugs’.
