A Devonshire man who was caught driving under the influence of alcohol while carrying a minor as pillion on North Shore Road was banned from the roads.

Appearing in Magistrates’ Court before senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson yesterday, Derek Weeks, 36, pleaded guilty to driving dangerously, driving while impaired and failing to give a breath sample on December 8.

The court heard that police officers on patrol noticed a motorcycle being driven at speed near the Esso service station on Crawl Hill at about 9.30pm. The bike was overtaking multiple vehicles and almost collided with oncoming traffic.

Police activated emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the rider but he continued to ride in an easterly direction in an erratic manner.

They approached the rider after he came to a stop on Summit View Drive, Hamilton Parish, and the rider told the child to get off the bike and run to a nearby building.

Officers observed that Weeks’s eyes were glazed and that his breath smelt of alcohol.

When informed he was being arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while impaired, he replied: “So what?”

Weeks was disqualified from driving all vehicles “until further order of the court” and was referred to DUI court for observation and consideration.

Ms Anderson asked Weeks if he had a problem, to which he replied: “Yes, I do”.

The court ordered a Bermuda Assessment and Referral Centre report, and Weeks was released on bail of $5,000.

Weeks also pleaded guilty to a string of other traffic offences between July and November 2021, including driving with no insurance, driving without a driver's licence and driving an unlicensed car, resulting in fines in excess of $4,000.