Banned motorcyclist jailed over drunken ride in the early hours

Wednesday 09 November 2022

An uninsured motorcyclist, who rode his motorbike while over the alcohol limit and while already banned from the roads, was told "you only have yourself to blame" as he was jailed on Tuesday.

Andre Rogerio Moura Gouveia (26), who was also handed a three-year driving ban in the Magistrate's Court, was seen in St. Helier town centre in the early hours of 17 September, riding his motorbike and repeatedly falling off.

St. Helier Centenier Paul Huelin, prosecuting, said a witness reported him to the police, who caught up with him in Hue Court at 01:18, sitting astride the motorbike with the engine running.

Mr Huelin said: "Initially he was not fully co-operative. Mr Gouveia was slurring his words and it was difficult to understand what he was saying.

"He was unsteady on his feet and couldn't stand still. He smelt of intoxicant."

Pictured: Gouveia was sentenced in the Magistrate's Court yesterday.

A breath test at the station gave a reading of 90 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath – almost three times the legal limit.

The court heard that at the time Gouveia was already disqualified from driving for a previous offence.

His provisional licence had expired and he had no insurance.

He had previous convictions for driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, said: "At that time of the morning there was nobody else about. He knows drinking to excess does not have a good outcome for him."

The advocate accepted a prison sentence was a possibility but asked for a community service order instead, adding that Gouveia had complied with them in the past.

Gouveia pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and while over the legal alcohol limit and without insurance.

Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris said he deserved some credit for the pleas, but added: "In the circumstances, you had little option."

He also noted that Gouveia "made no attempt" to insure the motorcycle after buying it while already disqualified.

Mr Harris turned down the request for a community punishment, saying: "Your offending is too serious. You only have yourself to blame."

He jailed Gouveia for four months for driving while over the alcohol limit, three months for driving while disqualified, and one month for driving without insurance, all to run consecutively.

He also banned him from the roads for three years and ordered him to retake his test afterwards.