A Pembroke man was banned from the road for three years today after he admitted drinking and driving for the second time in two years.

Anthony Thomas, 56, pleaded guilty to driving while impaired on December 2.

Magistrates’ Court heard that at 4.45pm that day officers stopped Thomas on Middle Road in Devonshire, near the Arboretum, after they noticed his car had an unauthorised custom licence plate.

He told officers that the official licence plate was in the back of the car, but they noticed he smelled of alcohol.

Thomas admitted having one beer and later failed to produce a breath sample at Hamilton Police Station.

After pleading guilty, Thomas said he had not been drunk on the day and maintained that he only had one beer.

He added that he did attempt to provide a breath sample, saying: “I blew so hard the arrow went straight across instead of up and down, so I don’t know what they are saying.”

The court heard Thomas had two previous convictions for drink-driving offences, including one of refusing a breath test last year.

Magistrate Tyrone Chin fined Thomas $2,500 and banned him from driving all vehicles for three years.

Another Pembroke resident, Sherrie O’Connor, was also banned from the road after she admitted refusing a breath test.

The court heard the 46-year-old was arrested after she crashed her car on St John’s Road, Pembroke, shortly before 1am on November 24.

Prosecutors said she lost control of the vehicle while driving west and the car struck walls on both sides of the road before it stopped.

When officers arrived on scene, O’Connor was seen crying while being consoled by other members of the public.

She admitted that she had “a few” drinks, but refused requests for a breath sample.

Mr Chin fined O’Connor $1,000 and banned her from driving for one year.

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