into a pole on his way home was yesterday fined a total of $525 and disqualified from driving all vehicles for a year.

Stuart Outerbridge, 46, who admitted driving while impaired and without a licence, pleaded with the Magistrate to use her discretion.

But the Wor. Cheryl-Ann Mapp told him he had committed a serious offence.

"Some don't even make it to the hospital or they end up killing someone else,'' she said. "In my mind drunk driving is just a senseless offence.'' Outerbridge said he realised the gravity of the situation, but his driving record had been clean for more than 30 years.

He needed his licence because his cycle rental company Bermuda Cycles was a small one and he was often needed as a fill-in driver to deliver and pick up mopeds.

However, Mrs. Mapp noted twice the legal amount of alcohol had been in his system.

She also pointed out he lived in Smith's Parish, therefore, had quite a way to go before reaching home.

Prosecutor Sgt. Rex Osborne told the Court that Outerbridge was arrested at about 2 a.m. on May 15 on Harbour Road in Paget after someone reported he had been in an accident.

He recorded a breathalyser reading of 171 millilitres of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, he said.

It was also uncovered that his driver's licence had expired.

Mrs. Mapp fined him $125 for that offence and $400 for driving drunk.

Outerbridge, unhappy with the sentence, asked if he could appeal.