A biker from Northern Ireland was caught riding while twice the legal drink-drive limit.

John James Martin, of Market Hill, County Armagh, was fined £900 and banned from driving for two years after admitting the offence.

Police stopped Martin, whose age was not given in court, while he was riding a Triumph on the main road in St John’s on Monday (June 3).

He was said to be smelling of alcohol and told police he had recently ’had a pint’.

However, he failed a roadside breathalyser test and a subsequent one at police headquarters with a reading of 70 - the legal limit is 35.

When interviewed, Martin told police he had been at the Douglas Grandstand and ’necked’ his pint because his friends were leaving.

Defence advocate Winston Taylor said: ’Mr Martin had been out during the day. He had two pints earlier in the day and had not eaten any food.

’He started to drink a third pint sometime later. He confirmed that he necked the pint, i.e. drank it very quickly.’

Mr Taylor went on to say that Martin worked in construction and had his own business, cutting concrete.

’He usually drives his employees around,’ said the advocate. ’His friends are taking his bike home.’

The court heard that Martin has no relevant previous convictions. High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told him: ’You were two-times the drink-drive limit. There are enough accidents during TT without people driving while intoxicated.’

He was ordered to pay the fine and £125 prosecution costs forthwith or face 60 days in prison.