A drink-driving tourist was not wearing a motorcycle helmet when he eluded police warning lights and took a U-turn before heading back to the resort where he had been initially told to stop

Mitchell Price appeared in the Criminal Court yesterday on charges of excess breath alcohol and failing to stop for police.

The court heard he was riding a scooter in the Ngatangiia area at Moana Sands on Wednesday when he was seen by police about 7.30pm headed in the Matavera direction.

Police observed he wasn’t wearing a helmet and he was signalled to stop, but refused.

The court heard he repeatedly refused to stop and took a U-turn in the vicinity of the Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) at Avana Harbour before heading back in the direction of Moana Sands.

Police caught up with him at Moana Sands and he was taken to Police Headquarters where an evidential breath test showed he had 490 micrograms per litre of breath.

He refused to make a statement.

In court yesterday, Price entered guilty pleas.

Justice of the Peace Vania Kenning disqualified him from driving for 12 months and fined him $250 plus $50 court costs for excess breath alcohol. He was fined $30 plus $50 court costs for failing to stop for police.