Court warns young tipsy holidaymaker

A 21-year-old Spaniard who had too much to drink and was involved in a traffic accident on Sunday was yesterday given a suspended jail term and warned by a magistrate "to either drink or drive, not both".

Jon Jabier Sanchez, a student on holiday here, was found to have 51 milligrammes of alcohol when breathalysed. The legal limit was 35 milligrammes, Police Inspector Nikolai Sant said.

The youngster was driving a rented Ford Fiesta in Lourdes Lane, St Julians when he collided with a Toyota Corolla driven by Salvatore Calleja of Marsaxlokk.

The traffic wardens called on the scene detected a strong smell of alcohol on Mr Sanchez's breath and called in the police.

Mr Sanchez pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and damaging a vehicle while driving negligently.

Taking into consideration the fact that the insurance companies will be dealing with the expenses incurred and that Mr Sanchez will be paying the excess, Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona handed down a one-month jail term suspended for a year and banned Mr Sanchez from driving for a week. He leaves on Thursday.

The magistrate told Mr Sanchez that what he had done was very serious and was taken even more seriously in his home country. Tongue in cheek he added that in Spain they might even throw him to a bull in an arena. Quickly adopting a serious tone again, the magistrate told the young visitor to either drink or drive, but not both.

Legal aid lawyer Noel Bartolo appeared for the accused.