A top golfer who admitted falling asleep at the wheel and running down a man while drunk, was yesterday spared jail.

Jarryd Tyler Dillas, 23, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Chauncey Durham Jr. while under the influence of alcohol on August 16, 2007.

Yesterday in Supreme Court, Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons handed him a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years, along with a three-year driving ban. He was also ordered to complete 500 hours of community service.

Said Dillas of Store Lane, Sandys: "First and foremost, I would like to apologise to Mr. Durham and his family for all that they have been through since then. I would like to thank my family for their support during this time.

"There's no excuse for my decision [to drive] and it was by far the worst decision I have made. I take full responsibility for making that decision. I always pride myself in being someone who tries to do the right thing and if given the opportunity, I'll never do it again."

The court heard from Crown prosecutor Maria Sofianos that the accident happened at 3 a.m. on August 16 as Dillas drove along Harbour Road, near Darrell's Wharf.

Dillas told officers he was driving along Middle Road in Warwick when he began to fall asleep. He decided to instead drive to Darrell's Wharf where he could park the car to sleep.

The defendant said he turned up Morgan's Road and was awoken by the impact of the collision.

Said Ms Sofianos: "Police observed that the defendant's eyes were red, his speech slurred and an odour of alcohol could be detected from his breath. He was asked if he had been drinking, to which he replied, 'I had a few drinks earlier'."

Dillas was asked to provide a sample of his breath and a breathalyser test revealed he had 109 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

At the Police station, Dillas admitted he was the driver of the car in the collision.

Mr. Durham, 38, received a laceration to his scrotum, heavy bleeding that caused his blood pressure to drop dangerously low, a fractured pelvis, cuts to the chin and multiple abrasions to his body.

Llewellyn Peniston, lawyer for the defendant, said his client was of good character and had just come back from representing Bermuda in the Island Games where he won a gold medal for golf.

He said Dillas had recently started a new job, having just finished university in May where he received a full academic scholarship.

Mr. Peniston said: "The defendant made frequent visits to the hospital to check on the complainant. There is no one that can stand before My Lady and minimise the impact on him. He was modestly over the limit and had taken steps to avoid driving in that state. Unfortunately, he did not achieve that manoeuvre."

Mrs. Justice Simmons accepted that Dillas was of good character but said alcohol is the most deadly drug on the Island and warned the defendant to use it in moderation.