A drinker who got into his car despite a warning from the Police has been fined and banned from the roads.

Mark Trott, 42, of Chapel of Ease Lane, St. David's, pleaded guilty to driving while impaired when he appeared at Magistrates' Court.

Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney said Police spotted him with an open beer in his hand in Water Street, St. George's, at 1.25 a.m. on March 8.

They told him to return to the club he had left or dispose of it — and Trott placed the drink in a trash bin.

The Police observed that his speech was slurred and he smelled strongly of drink. According to Mr. Mahoney, they asked Trott if he was driving — and warned that he was likely to be arrested if he attempted to do so.

However, the defendant then got into his car and reversed it out of the car park — leading to his arrest.

He told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo: "I admit I was wrong. I was drinking while driving, but like I told the officer, I had one beer. I knew I was more than capable of driving myself home."

Mr. Tokunbo meted out a $800 fine, ten demerit points, and a 12-month driving ban.