Drunk tractor driver banned from driving in Jersey

Magistrate Bridget Shaw described his actions as both 'dangerous' and 'reckless'
Magistrate Bridget Shaw described his actions as both 'dangerous' and 'reckless'

A Jersey Magistrate's Court has disqualified a man from driving and given him 50 hours of community service after he drove a tractor through a pedestrian area whilst over the alcohol limit.

64-year old Trevor Alan Perron was found to have driven his grey Massey Ferguson tractor down Bath Street, St Helier, a pedestrianised zone, near a group of smokers outside the Havana Club on 19 February this year.

Mr Perron claimed he was on his way to the Harbour in the early hours of the morning to assist a friend with a broken gear box when the Police stopped him.

He said he thought he could take a shortcut through the pedestrianised part of the road because delivery vans were able to.

'Dangerous'

Magistrate Bridget Shaw described his actions as both 'dangerous' and 'reckless', not only due to the fact he had consumed alcohol, but also as he potentially endangered the people gathered outside Havana nightclub and walking in the area.

“It’s one thing to drive whilst over the limit on a public road where the public expect to see vehicles and will take care when crossing the road... it's another thing to turn onto the pedestrian area where you take the risk of coming into contact with pedestrians,” she said.

Advocate Haines told the Court that Mr Perron had believed the action to be acceptable.

Magistrate Shaw rejected the claim, however, adding: “A delivery driver would be sober one hopes.”

This was not Mr Perron’s first offence. He was also disqualified from driving in 1999 and was convicted for driving whilst disqualified in 2008.