A man who struck a wall while riding his bike was banned from the roads for 18 months yesterday — more than nine years after first appearing in court.

Craig Gardiner, 49, from Pembroke, pleaded guilty to driving while influenced by alcohol when he appeared in Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that in November 2013, police attended a collision on Harrington Sound Road, Hamilton Parish, and saw Gardiner lying in the road on his back.

He told officers that the accident happened when he tried to avoid hitting cars on the other side of the road. He admitted to drinking before getting on his bike.

Gardiner told magistrate Tyrone Chin that he first appeared in court for the incident a few days after it happened, but his name was not called.

He added that no one had contacted him since then about when to attend court next, which is why he did not answer to the charge until yesterday.

The court heard that Gardiner had been detained by police over the weekend and had spent Saturday and Sunday at Hamilton Police Station.

In addition to the ban, Gardiner was ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.

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