A man who drove while impaired was fined and banned from the road yesterday ? despite his wife?s heartfelt appeal to the magistrate.

Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney told the court that Ricardo Butler?s car was spotted by officers on Middle Road, Smith?s at 3.10 a.m. on June 9.

Police pursued the 43-year-old?s vehicle up Jennings Road. When he stopped he was unsteady on his feet, swayed from side to side, and smelled strongly of alcohol.

Mr. Mahoney said the defendant denied having drunk alcohol, and claimed to be simply ?tired? from having got up at 5 a.m.

Butler, of Aubrey Road, Hamilton Parish, pleaded guilty. He told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner: ?I apologise to the court for what I?ve done. It?s not going to happen again.?

Mr. Warner handed Butler a $1,000 fine and banned him from driving for a year.

This prompted his wife ? who did not give her name in court ? to stand up and address the magistrate.

She explained her husband worked shifts outside public transport hours and added: ?I can?t drive him. I have bad night vision.?

Mr. Warner said: ?I understand the situation. I would personally like to help but there?s a mandatory disqualification period.?