A 56-year-old woman from Andreas has been banned from driving for five years and fined £1,200 after failing to provide a breath sample to police.

Jacquelyn Price, of Ballaradcliffe, admitted the offence and must also retake her test at the end of the ban.

Price was seen leaving Andreas shop and getting into a Volkswagen Golf on October 31 at 2.45pm. She was reported to be smelling of alcohol and the police were called.

At 3.05pm police attended Price’s home address and she was said to have glazed eyes and be smelling of alcohol.

She was asked if she had been driving and said she had and was then asked if she had been drinking and replied ’yes’. She failed a breathalyser test and was arrested and taken to police headquarters.

Once there she was required to give two samples of breath but failed to do so despite making efforts.

Advocate Darren Taubitz said his client was extremely anxious and upset over what had happened. He added that Price had health issues and was a carer for her husband.

The advocate said: ’She is a lady who is dealing with a great deal of stress and upset in her life. She is lucky she has a supportive group of friends. The author of the probation report links the offence to her emotional and health issues.’

Mr Taubitz said the irony was that, the minimum ban for failing to provide a breath sample was five years, and if Price had provided a sample and even if she had been over the limit, she may have received a lesser ban.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes sentenced Price on the basis she had made genuine attempts to provide a breath sample.

She said: ’The reason why Tynwald consider it more serious is to prevent occasions when people deliberately fail to provide a sample because they know they are over the prescribed limit.’