A 73-year-old drink-driving boozy bowler who was three and a half times the legal limit has been fined £2,500 and banned for five years.

Joseph Anthony Phelan told police he had been playing bowls before driving home but admitted having a few drinks.

Magistrates also ordered him to retake his test at the end of the ban and complete a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

Magistrates chair Julian Ashcroft told Phelan: ’The reading is probably one of the highest I’ve ever heard in this court in all the time I’ve been a magistrate.’

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that police were called on August 27 at 3.50pm after a witness reported seeing Phelan’s Jeep Renegade weaving in the road at Strang Road in Braddan.

Police called at his home, at Vicarage Mews in Douglas, and he told them he had been playing bowls before he drove home but admitted drinking.

He was said to be slightly unsteady on his feet and described as appearing ’dazed and confused’.

After being arrested and taken to police headquarters Phelan blew a reading of 122 during a breathalyser test. The legal limit is 35.

When interviewed he gave ’no comment’ responses to questions.

Defence advocate Paul Glover said: ’Mr Phelan is a 73-year-old man who has no previous convictions.

’The main issue is the high reading, three and a half times the limit, but he was the sole occupant of the vehicle and there was no crash or injuries caused.

’He was fully taxed, insured and licensed.’

Mr Glover asked for credit to be given for his client’s guilty plea and said that sentencing options were limited.

The advocate said that probation was not really suitable as Phelan had no ongoing issues and community service was not appropriate due to his age.

Phelan was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.

He offered to pay the fine and costs at a rate of £50 per month but magistrates chair Julian Ashcroft told him the offer was ’way too low’ as he now had an asset which he could not use for five years and ordered him to pay £100 per month.