Louro’s roadside breath test showed 190mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is 35. By the time he gave an evidential test at the police station this had fallen to 170mcg.
Louro, 34, admitted drink-driving and dangerous driving in court.
Advocate Phoebe Cobb, prosecuting, said that Louro was arrested after several people rang 999 to raise concerns about his driving.
One witness said he had heard a ‘heavy crunch’ while in his garden in Rue Cauchez, St Martin’s, and turned around to see damage to an earth bank opposite. The defendant’s van had stopped further along the road and a wheel arch fell from the vehicle before he drove off.
Other motorists reported the van going through a red light and swerving across the road as it drove towards Louro’s home in the Forest. One driver pulled over to avoid a collision but the van nonetheless swerved towards him, damaging both vehicles’ wing mirrors.
The van also mounted the pavement, where there were pedestrians walking, and on turning into a lane narrowly missed a dog walker.
Louro was at his home address when officers arrived to find him still in his van with three-quarters of a one litre bottle of vodka also found in the vehicle.
He initially told police that he had not drunk before driving and had only had the vodka after he stopped.
He had a relevant previous conviction from 2017 when he was sentenced to 100 hours of community service after admitting drinking and driving while three times the legal limit.
Letters of reference were given to the court from Louro’s wife, doctor, work colleagues and family members as well as a letter from himself.
Judge Catherine Fooks later said that there had been too many references and they repeated similar points.
Advocate Sam Maindonald, defending, said he was very ashamed of his behaviour. Despite what he had initially said to the officers, which had been without legal advice, he had entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.
The facts were not disputed and he accepted that he had put people at significant risk because of his actions.
Fortunately nobody had been hurt and there had been no significant damage caused to property.
He had come to Guernsey at the age of 19 and since then had set up his own business and bought a house which he shared with his wife and their young child.
He accepted that he had a problem with alcohol and had already engaged with the Independence support group.
Louro understood that a custodial sentence would be imposed but in prison he would be given the chance to address his issues.
Passing sentence, Judge Fooks said the court had taken account of Louro’s family circumstances but heavy drinkers who drive, and repeat offenders must expect a custodial sentence.
The drink-driving offence was seen as an aggravating factor for the dangerous driving, with the latter earning Louro a nine-month prison sentence and the former, six months concurrent, plus a six-year ban for dangerous driving and four years for drink-driving, also concurrent.
