A disqualified driver who took his ex-partner’s car without consent has been sentenced to 200 hours of community service.

Petr Grnalek, of Loch Promenade, Douglas, was found guilty of the two offences after a summary court trial, but not guilty of drink-driving.

Magistrates also ordered the 33-year-old to pay £1,575 prosecution costs, the cost of the case going to trial.

Grnalek was disqualified from driving for three years in October 2018 with an order to retake his test at the end of the ban.

Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court that Grnalek’s ex-partner returned home to Berrywoods Grove on September 16 at 6.20pm.

She said that her car was missing along with the keys to it and there were empty alcohol bottles around the house.

At 6.29pm she said that she saw Grnalek arrive at the house in her car so she went outside and asked him to get out.

He was said to have walked off carrying a four-pack of cider and she reported him to the police as she knew he was disqualified from driving.

Police found Grnalek at the rear of Cronk-y-Berry School but he told them: ’I have not driven. I have no keys. She’s trying to make trouble for me.’

He told police that he had been checking the car’s cooling system but claimed he had not started the engine despite it still being warm when police arrived.

Grnalek was found guilty of taking a vehicle without consent and driving while disqualified after a trial lasting one day.

Defence advocate James Peterson said that there was no evidence of his client making a long journey in the car.

The advocate asked for credit to be given for Grnalek’s lack of previous convictions, just two in 2018 which had led to the driving ban.

Mr Peterson asked magistrates to follow the recommendation of a probation report, which suggested community service as an appropriate penalty.

Magistrates made the 200-hour order as a direct alternative to 16 weeks in custody and also endorsed Grnalek’s licence with eight points.

He will pay the £1,575 costs at a rate of £50 per week.