Yellowknife (Sep 10/04) - A Yellowknife man was sentenced to a month in jail and barred from driving for three years after he was caught weaving through the downtown area earlier this summer with nearly three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

Christopher Bourke, 40, was pulled over by a municipal enforcement officer after he was clocked at 72 kilometres per hour in a 30km/h zone on July 16.

When the officer's lights went on behind Bourke's car, he swerved onto the sidewalk near 54th Street before coming to a stop. Officers noted he had trouble standing upright and keeping his eyes open. A search of the car revealed three bottles of beer, two bottles of hard liquor and bag of what appeared to be marijuana, Crown attorney Loretta Colton told the court.

Officers also found an open bottle of beer in Bourke's jacket. Two separate breathalyser tests pegged Bourke's blood alcohol level at .210, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08.

"He should get down on his knees and thank the police," said Chief Judge Michel Bourassa. "He was going to kill someone that night. It was pure luck no one was injured."

It marked the fourth time since 1984 he has been convicted of an alcohol-related driving charge.

"The public needs to be protected from this man. He is out of control," said Bourassa as he handed down the jail sentence and driving ban.

"I'm sorry. I made a mistake," Bourke said before being led away. His lawyer told the court Bourke has been struggling with a drinking problem.