A St George’s man who repeatedly refused to heed warnings by Police has been disqualified from driving for more than a year.

Alberto DeCouto, 25, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court this morning to having care and control of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol in an incident on Saturday morning.

Prosecutor Takiyah Burgess told the court that Police were on duty outside the Limelight Lounge in St George’s when they noticed DeCouto leaving the club unsteady on his feet. A while later, they saw him again on a parked motorcycle outside the club.

The officers approached DeCouto, warning him against driving while impaired, to which he responded: “I have been asleep for the last two hours. I’m sober now.”

DeCouto re-entered the club, but later stepped back out and got back on to the motorcycle, putting his keys into the ignition. Warned again by the officers, he maintained that he was not drunk and walked back into the club.

Shortly after 3am, DeCouto again stepped out of the club, this time wearing a black jacket, and got back on to the motorcycle. As police began to walk towards him for a third time, he got off the bike and began to walk back towards the club before being stopped. The officers spoke to DeCouto again, noticing that his breath smelled of alcohol.

They subsequently arrested him on suspicion of having care and control of a vehicle while impaired. DeCouto told Police: “Are you serious right now? All I want to do is go home. I’m making work at 6am.”

After DeCouto pleaded guilty, defence lawyer Rick Woolridge asked the court if the defendant might be able to keep his 50cc licence for work.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said that the disqualification was mandatory, adding: “He had ample opportunity to protect his licence. The Police didn’t arrest charge him on the first, second or third time.”

He disqualified DeCouto from riding all vehicles for 18 months and fined him $1,200.