Crashed his car after struggling to find it

Monday 21 June 2021

A drink driver has been sentenced to 80 hours community service after reversing his car into a motorbike on the Crown Pier.

Joao Rafael Da Silva Martins, 35, was seen by witnesses at 02:55 on 16 May stumbling through the car park, trying a number of car doors.

He was approached by one witness, who had suspicions that he had been drinking and tried to convince him not to drive. The Court was told that Martins became confrontational so the witness left him alone.

Shortly afterwards a crash was heard. Having found his car, Martins reversed it into a parked motorbike.

Pictured: Martins appeared in the Magistrate’s Court for sentencing.

Police officers were called to the scene and Martins was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. At Police HQ he blew a reading of 91 mcg per 100ml – the limit is 35 mcg.

During his interview Martins claimed that “I didn’t drive, I just reversed my car.”

Advocate David Domaille said his client experienced a “moment of madness” and has since apologised profusely for the incident. He argued the witness had racially abused Martins and slapped him prior to him getting in the car.

Judge Graeme McKerrell noted the mitigation, but said he was under the impression that the slap was to try and convince Martins not to drive.

“The fact that you said you felt ok to drive is indicative to me that you have more of a problem than you care to admit,” said Judge McKerrell.

Martins was handed 80 hours community service and disqualified from driving for two years and nine months.