Man (28) jailed for two months

A local hotel manager has been sentenced to two months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a drink driving charge.

Nitin Sharma (28), 1 Fatima Court, Dundalk, admitted the offence which occurred in the early hours of 10 June, 2017, at Market Street, Dundalk.

The district court heard he has 13 previous convictions, all road traffic-related.

Inspector Martin Beggy gave evidence that at 3.10am, the defendant drove onto the footpath and came off again.

He stopped immediately when indicated to do so by gardaí, and subsequently provided a breath sample which showed a reading of 77.

It was stated on behalf of Sharma that he is an Indian national, who has been in this country 10 years, and did a degree in business, before working as a supervisor in the Clayton Hotel, Ballsbridge.

He is now a local hotel manager.

Sharma was going through a bad patch at the time, having broken up with his girlfriend.

He has since sold his car, and is getting a taxi to work. He is very apologetic.

Judge O’Shea noted the accused found himself in trouble on previous occasions, relatively close to this matter.

He has been disqualified from driving for a significant period of time.

The judge took into account the mitigating factors, and said an appropriate sentence is one of two months.

He rejected a submission by a defence solicitor that the sentence was disproportionate for this type of offence.

Bail in the event of an appeal was set at €500.