A biker from Onchan has been fined £600 after dangerously overtaking a car near Alpine Corner on the main Kirk Michael to Ballaugh road.

Mervyn Donnell, aged 54, of Seaview Road, admitted driving without due care or attention and had his licence endorsed with eight penalty points.

He initially denied the offence and the case was heading to trial but changed his plea on Thursday last week.

Magistrates also ordered him to pay £800 prosecution costs.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court that, on July 26 at 7.20pm, a witness was driving from Kirk Michael to Ballaugh.

Near Alpine Corner, the witness said Donnell overtook them at speed and then did the same to the vehicle in front.

The manoeuvre was said to have resulted in the bike being three abreast at one point, on the wrong side of the road and then squeezing between two cars.

Donnell was quizzed by police but said he did not recall the incident. However, one of the drivers had dash cam footage, which recorded it.

Donnell was shown the footage and then said that he did not think it was him - but then said that he recalled the incident adding: ’It would have been safer if I had waited.’

Defence advocate Paul Glover said: ’Mr Donnell accepts the manoeuvre was risky.

’Fortunately no-one was hurt and no drastic evasive action was needed by any other road user.

’This is his first involvement with police or the courts.

’He has had a full clean driving licence for nearly 30 years.’