Confusion as to the type of licence required to drive a type of car has left a Ballasalla man with a £1,000 fine.

William Henry Cubbon, of Crossag Road, was fined by High Bailiff Jayne Hughes on Tuesday having admitted charges of driving while disqualified and with no insurance.

Prosecutor James Robinson told the court that on January 24, officers stopped Cubbon in his Polaris Ranger.

It emerged that Cubbon did not have a full driving licence, having been banned in 2014.

Defence advocate Jim Travers, reading his client’s basis of plea, said that Cubbon has consulted three garages in the island about the car and was told he could drive it on a provisional licence.

He also did have insurance, but due to him not having a full licence, this was invalid.

Mr Travers said the matter was a ’false understanding of the position’.

Mrs Hughes accepted this was an ’unusual’ case but said he should’ve checked beyond asking those who sold him the vehicle.

She fined Cubbon £1,000 and ordered him to pay £50 prosecution costs.