Jersey driver gets into 'wheel' trouble

Friday 22 September 2017

A 32-year-old man who drove a car in such bad condition that the wheel actually came off as he was driving, has been given 90 hours of community service by Jersey's Magistrate's Court.

Goncalo Jose Da Silva Correia was also disqualified from driving for three months.

The Court heard that Correia was on his way to work when his car refused to start. He then decided to take another car, which he had recently bought from a friend and for which he had no insurance, to make his way from Sorel to town.

Halfway down St John's Road, the wheel came off and Correia left the vehicle at the Motormall before continuing on foot. The brake disks were also found on the floor by the vehicle. 

Advocate James Bell, who was defending, told the Court that Correia hadn't realised the condition of the car when he purchased it. As he was starting a new job, he didn't want to be late and made a last minute decision to use the car. Advocate Bell added that Correia had gone to the Police voluntarily the next day, and that the incident had no caused damage to any other property.

Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris told Correia that it was his responsibility to check the state of a car before driving it. He also stated that the offence crossed the custodial threshold but that he was inclined to consider a community service order instead.

Despite Advocate Bell's plea to avoid disqualification, so that Correia could keep his job, the Assistant Magistrate said: "I don’t see a way of avoiding disqualification but I will do my best ot keep it to minimum and will therefore disqualify you for three months." 

While Correia argued, saying "I don’t think I deserve that punishment," the Assistant Magistrate replied that it was only a matter of luck that there was no injury and that Correia should consider himself fortunate that he didn't disqualify him for longer. He said: "You may disagree with it but it is my decision. Please don’t attempt to drive while disqualified."

Correia was also handed 90 hours of community service.