The first London man to be fitted with a US-style “sobriety bracelet” after being convicted of an alcohol-related crime today said: “I’m not going to touch a drop.”

Father-of-two Augustine Apraku, 24, was issued with the ankle tag last night, which he must wear for the next 80 days, after being convicted over a row outside a nightclub.

Sensors test the wearer’s sweat every 30 minutes to detect traces of alcohol. If positive, the device sends an alarm to police and the offender can be recalled to court, fined or even jailed.

Apraku, a removals man from Sutton, pleaded guilty at Croydon magistrates’ court to using abusive language and provoking unlawful violence.

He told the Standard the dispute on July 12 was a “one-off” and said, as the father of a baby and a toddler, he rarely had the opportunity to go out.

He said: “It was one occasion. I’m not really a drinker anyway.”

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Of the bracelet, he said: “I guess I’m the guinea pig for it and I’m happy to do the trial. It’s much better than community service. You’re still free.

“It hasn’t got a curfew on it so I can go out but I can’t drink. I’m not going to touch any alcohol. I was told the tag isn’t going to be used for people dependent on alcohol. I think it’s for social drinkers who become pains in the arse.”

Apraku was fitted with the bracelet as the year-long pilot scheme, which it is estimated will lead to 150 offenders at any one time being tagged, was launched by Mayor Boris Johnson.

The ankle tags will be given to those guilty of drunken offences including assault, criminal damage or drink-driving, to wear around the clock.

Courts in Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Sutton will have the power to impose “alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirements”.

The Mayor said: “I think it’s a cheaper, more effective way to help people to beat the booze and to beat violence.”

If the trial is successful, the tags could be rolled out across the UK.