Motorist let uninsured teen behind the wheel… then went drink-driving

Sunday 30 July 2023

A woman who allowed an uninsured driver to drive her car – and later drove the vehicle herself while more than twice the legal alcohol limit – has been banned from the roads and sentenced to community service.

The Magistrate's Court heard that on the afternoon of 20 May, Jasmin Catherine Hamilton (27) let the uninsured man drive her white BMW through St. Saviour.

Hamilton later drove towards St. Martin, but had to call her father for a lift when the vehicle broke down.

He suspected her of drink-driving and phoned the police, who found she had 78 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal maximum is 35 micrograms.

Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, told the Court that Hamilton had admitted the offences at the earliest opportunity and said: "This was the first time she had any contact with the police."

Assistant Magistrate Sarah Fitz sentenced Hamilton to 90 hours of community service and banned her from driving for 18 months, ordering to retake her driving test afterwards. 

She said: ‘I’m pretty confident we are not going to be seeing you in court again."

The uninsured driver was 19-year-old Sean Brandon De La Hay.

He admitted driving without insurance and sentencing was postponed until 4 September to allow for a background report.