A drink-driver who crashed his car while more than twice the legal limit has been fined £1,500 and banned from driving for three years.

Benjamin Convery, aged 24, of Close Drean, Ramsey, failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 89. The legal limit is 35.

The chef pleaded guilty to the offence and was also ordered to retake his test at the end of the ban and complete a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

Prosecuting advocate James Robinson told the court that police were called to an accident at Gladstone Avenue in Ramsey at 11.26pm on November 28.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and the revving of an engine.

When officers arrived they found Convery’s Toyota Rav 4 stopped at an angle in the road.

He was sitting next to the vehicle and told police it had suffered a puncture.

Police said that he was smelling of alcohol and when asked if he had been drinking Convery said he had drunk four pints.

At police headquarters he failed a breathalyser test with the reading of 89.

When interviewed the following morning he had admitted losing control of the car after drinking.

The court heard that he has no previous convictions.

A probation report said that Convery worked long hours as a chef in a restaurant six days a week.

The report said that he had been suffering from stress but could offer no explanation for him driving other than to say he had made a ’dreadful mistake’.

Convery said he had been out with friends on the night of the incident and had only driven a short distance, but had clipped the kerb.

Defence advocate Kate Alexander asked for credit to be given for her client’s guilty plea and his co-operation with the police.

Ms Alexander said that Convery could pay any fine within seven days.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes also ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £125 which he must pay along with the fine, by December 8.