Unlicensed driver who led cops on merry chase fined $120,000

An unlicensed driver, who led a police corporal on a merry chase along several city streets, was yesterday fined $120,000 when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Aylwin Bourne, 34, of 1220 Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, pleaded guilty to three charges of dangerous driving for which he was fined $25,000 each; one charge of driving without a licence, for which he was fined $25,000 and one charge of breach of insurance for which he was fined $20,000.

When asked whose vehicle he was driving and why, Bourne told Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court that it was his uncle’s vehicle and he was driving it to the gas station on Hadfield Street to get gas. Bourne had nothing else to say in his defence and continuously examined the courtroom floor.

The court heard that on January 14, at 8.45 pm a police corporal, who knew Bourne was an unlicensed driver, saw him driving north along Manget Place, Georgetown.

The corporal pulled up alongside Bourne and signalled him to pull over. Bourne refused to stop and was pursued west into Croal Street then south into Avenue of the Republic. At Brickdam he sped through a red light at the intersection and dashed through the Camp Street intersection. Bourne was later arrested.

The magistrate castigated Bourne about his irresponsible behaviour and how dangerous it could have been to the public.