A disqualified driver was found slumped at the wheel of his vehicle after a crash in Onchan.

Self-employed builder Gary Terence Cleator, of Old Laxey Hill, admitted he had consumed four or five pints of lager before getting behind the wheel on December 10.

Police were called to the scene of a crash in Ballachrink Drive.

Prosecutor Mark Benson told the court Cleator, aged 49, was slumped at the wheel of his vehicle and smelling of alcohol.

He was arrested and taken to police headquarters but was unable to provide a sample of breath due to asthma.

Checks revealed Cleator had been disqualified for driving in 2005 for drink driving with an order to retake his test but had not done so.

When interviewed he told police he had gone to the Archibald Knox pub in Onchan in his father’s vehicle, which was registered to his sister, and had four or five pints watching football on television.

He said he then went to drive home to Laxey knowing that he shouldn’t.

Cleator said he had clipped a wing mirror of a parked car but didn’t recall what caused him to stop.

He said he had held a UK licence since 2005 and didn’t realise he had to retake his test. He added he had been driving since 2007 on the island with the UK licence.

The court heard Cleator was a named driver on his sister’s insurance but the insurance company was unaware of his disqualified status.

Advocate Jim Travers said there was no reciprocal agreement between the island and UK over driving bans when Cleator was disqualified.

’He observed the full disqualification here for two years. No right-minded driver would return to the road, paying insurance and tax unless they were full confident they were entitled to return to the road.’

Cleator admitted the three offences.

Magistrates sentenced Cleator to 180 hours of community service for driving while unfit and driving while disqualified.

He must also retake his test at the end of his ban and attend a course on the effects of alcohol on driving.