A man appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday charged with driving while intoxicated.

Robert Michael Hopping, 41, of Tee Street, Devonshire, pleaded guilty to drunk driving a cycle on Church Street, in Pembroke, at around 7.20 p.m. on Valentine's Day this year.

According to Crown counsel Cindy Clarke, Police stopped him because he did not have a light on his bike, only to notice a strong odour of intoxicating liquor.

They also noticed that he seemed unsteady on his feet. When questioned, he admitted to having had two drinks two hours previously.

Defence counsel Marc Daniels appealed for leniency on Hopping's behalf, saying that his client was responsible for picking up and dropping off his daughter every day and needed to drive for work.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner explained that in drink driving cases he had no discretion, however he added: "With a DUI there is a mandatory disqualification."

Hopping was fined $1,000, disqualified from driving for 12 months and issued 10 demerit points.