A second time drink-driver has been fined £2,000 and banned from driving for five years.

Simon Morley, of Mooragh Promenade, Ramsey, admitted the offence and was also ordered to retake his test at the end of the ban.

Prosecuting advocate Hazell Carroon told the court that police saw Morley driving a Skoda Octavia on March 13 at 1.24am in Ramsey.

A check showed that the 29-year-old had no tax and the vehicle was not registered to him and he was subsequently stopped on Gladstone Avenue.

Morley was said to have stumbled out of the car and described by police as smelling of alcohol, slurring his words, and unsteady on his feet.

He failed a roadside breathalyser test and was taken to police headquarters.

Once there, he failed a further test with a reading of 81. The legal limit is 35.

The court heard that Morley has a similar offence on his record which was dealt with by Cumbrian magistrates in 2017.

Ms Carroon said that the tax issue had been resolved as the records on the central system had not been up to date.

Defence advocate Paul Glover asked for credit to be given for his client’s guilty plea and handed in letters of reference.

The advocate said: ’Mr Morley had argued with his partner and took himself out of the situation.

’It was a foolish decision to drive. He accepts he should have gone for a walk if he wanted to cool down.

’He accepts making a stupid mistake that evening but we would highlight that it did take place at a quiet time of night and there doesn’t appear to have been any criticism of his driving.

’There was no collision, no-one was injured and he was the only person in the vehicle.’

Mr Glover went on to explain that the Skoda was a work vehicle which belonged to his employer.

He continued: ’The massive issue is the previous conviction. Mr Morley knows if it wasn’t for this things would be slightly easier.’

The court heard that Morley had been living in the island since February 2020.

High Bailiff Mrs Hughes also ordered him to pay £125 prosecution costs and complete a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

She told Morley: ’I don’t know if this is the same as the course you did in the UK but it clearly didn’t have the necessary impact on you.’

He will pay the fine and costs at a rate of £100 per month.