A Paget man has been ordered off the roads for at least a year after admitting drink-driving.

Michael Crockett committed the offence on August 30 on Mullet Bay Road, St George’s.

The court heard how the 36-year-old lost control of the car shortly before 12.30am and ran off the road into a roughly five-foot drop.

Officers saw Crockett and a female passenger walking away from the scene.

They observed the man to be unsteady on his feet and noticed a smell of liquor from his breath.

Crockett replied “yes” when asked if he had been driving the car and if he had consumed alcohol.

Police subsequently found car keys in his pocket.

Crockett failed a breathalyser test at Hamilton Police Station.

He was disqualified for 18 months and received a $1,500 suspended fine.

Crockett was referred to the DUI treatment court programme, which, upon successful completion, means his disqualification can be reduced and the fine can be averted.

Meanwhile, a visitor to the island was fined $1,500 and banned from Bermuda’s roads for 18 months after pleading guilty to riding an auxiliary cycle in the Hamilton while his ability to do so was impaired by alcohol.

Franz Wilhelm, whose address was given as Pembroke, admitted driving the bike on September 9.

He was going along Reid Street when, at the junction with Queen Street, he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a parked van.

Officers spoke with the 59-year-old regarding the circumstances of the collision. They observed he had slurred speech and detected alcohol on his breath.

In custody Wilhelm complained of pain. He was transferred to hospital where it was discovered he had broken a rib.

He told the court: “I’m very sorry, this is not my usual behaviour. I’m really sorry this happened.

“Four days in hospital, everybody was really nice. I hit the gas instead of the brake.”

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