A man who drowned his sorrows after the death of his father in Hurricane Ivan paid a heavy price in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Aubrey Coatain, 47, was found to be a record five times over the legal limit by Police ? 413 milligrams of alcohol per 80 milligrams of blood ? after he crashed his bike opposite the Bermuda Industrial Union in October 2004.

"I had just lost my father in Hurricane Ivan and I had to drink in order to sleep," he explained in front of acting senior Magistrate Edward King.

"I'll accept whatever cost the court requires."

A fine of $1,000 and disqualification from driving all vehicles for one year was handed down by Mr. King.

"Hurricane Ivan was one of the worst to hit the Caribbean in years, wreaking record destruction in Grenada," he said.

"Being five times over the limit is also another record and it was lucky you weren't poisoned. You seemed intent on joining your father."