when he bought it.

But Patrick Beasley, 25, of Cedar Hill, Warwick, had earlier told Police: "Why buy one, when you can steal one?'' Beasley was charged with driving while impaired by alcohol, fraudulent use of traffic documents, stealing a Transport Control Department licence sticker and driving with no third party insurance. He gave guilty pleas to all four offences.

In Magistrates' Court yesterday, prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy said Beasley was seen riding his auxiliary cycle erratically by uniformed officers on Front Street.

The Police officers followed the cycle onto Crow Lane where they saw it swerving from side-to-side and almost hitting a number of bollards. Beasley then narrowly missed the roundabout before the officers stopped him on Trimingham Road.

The Police officers suspected Beasley was drunk and also noticed a green April 1994 sticker on his cycle. "Green is strictly for livery cycles,'' Insp.

Duffy said.

When Beasley was interviewed he made the comment about stealing the sticker.

At Hamilton Police Station he took a breathalyser test and recorded twice the legal amount.

In court, Beasley said: "I did not steal the sticker but I cannot prove that.

It was on the bike when I bought it. The person I bought it off is off the Island and does not live here any more. It is the first time I drove the bike.'' Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis fined Beasley a total of $1,050 and disqualified him from driving all vehicles for 12 months.

Another hotel worker was fined $75 for stealing two livery cycle wing mirrors, worth $17.

Campbell Burrows, 19, of Cedar Hill, Warwick, was foiled by the fact that the two mirrors he took are exclusive to livery cycles imported by Oleander Cycles.

Burrows' Yamaha motorcycle was impounded as a result of a traffic offence two weeks ago and Police noticed the wing mirrors on the cycle were unusual.

He said: "They cannot be purchased. They belong to a certain type of livery cycle which are the property of Oleander.'' On being questioned by Police, Burrows said: "I need mirrors on my cycle and I liked them.'' Burrows said in court: "Next time I will earn the money and buy the things myself. I am sorry to have wasted the court's time.''