A hotel handyman who admitted drunk driving has been banned from the roads by a Magistrate – despite asking to be allowed to carry on riding a cycle.

Rudolph Clarke was stopped by the Police in the early hours of October 21 in Smith's, after officers spotted his car crossing the central line on North Shore Road.

According to Crown Counsel Larissa Burgess, the 64-year-old of Pearman's Hill, Hamilton Parish, had trouble getting out of his vehicle. Once out, officers noticed that he stumbled, struggled to hold a conversation, and his eyes were glazed and bloodshot.

Clarke admitted: "I had three drinks."

Defence lawyer Michael Scott said Clarke has no previous convictions for traffic violations, has had a clean driving licence for 46 years, and has worked at the Southampton Princess hotel for 30 years.

He explained that his client wished to carry on working at the hotel, but would need to be able to ride an auxiliary cycle to get there if banned from driving his car.

"This was a night of irrational behaviour, a departure from his usual behaviour," said Mr. Scott, who said Clarke apologised for his actions.

However, Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said he could not see any special circumstances that meant he should deviate from the usual practice of imposing a 12 month ban on driving all vehicles.

"The fact that he lives in Hamilton Parish and works in Southampton is not good reason. Everywhere in Bermuda is a short distance.

"People travel further than that on foot in other countries," observed Mr. Tokunbo, who also meted out an $800 fine.