A drunk teenager had to be chased on his motorcycle after refusing to accept a lift with the Police, a court heard.

Officers spotted Dijon Symonds as he attempted to start the ignition of his bike in the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel car park. They offered him a lift home but as they walked back to their patrol car, he successfully started the bike and sped off.

When Symonds was apprehended he told them: "Yeah, I know I'm drunk but can you give me a break?"

The 18-year-old, of Sandys, pleaded guilty to impaired driving at Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Nicole Smith, prosecuting, said Symonds was stopped on South Shore Road, Southampton, at 1.40 a.m. on December 14.

She said: "Police on patrol were at the Southampton Princess on another matter when their attention was drawn to the northeast car park where a young man was trying desperately to start his motorcycle.

"He began to curse because of his lack of success with his bike. When Police warned him about his use of adjectives they noticed his eyes were red and glazed, he was unsteady on his feet and his words were slurred. As they got close to the accused they could smell intoxicants on his breath."

Miss Smith said Symonds was advised to get a taxi but told officers he did not have money for a fare.

"He accepted a ride home from Police," she said. "But the officers then heard the accused successfully start the engine and speed off."

Police followed Symonds' silver Honda motorcycle, but he ignored their commands to stop until he reached Dolphin Ridge.

Miss Smith said: "He was swerving back and forth over the centre line of the road and was in a racing posture as he sped away."

Once stationary, he was cautioned by officers but replied: "Yeah, I know I'm drunk but can you give me a break?"

Symonds told the court yesterday: "I was sick that weekend and drank Night Nurse but didn't know I couldn't drink liquor with Night Nurse."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said a breath test on Symonds showed he had 219 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit being 80.

Symonds claimed Police had not offered him a lift home, to which Mr. Warner replied: "Even if that was true do you not think that was stupid?"

Symonds was fined $1,000, banned from driving for a year and received ten penalty points on his licence.