A motorist who crashed his car at Silverdale dip and rolled it into woods while over the drink-drive limit has been handed a suspended sentence.

David Mateusz Lis, of Palace Road, Douglas, left the scene of the crash and was later spotted by police as he ran through Foxdale.

He was then found to only hold a provisional licence which had expired in August 2018 and no insurance.

The vehicle’s tax had expired in July 2019 and after it was taken to the test centre it was found to have numerous defects.

The 24-year-old fisherman admitted drink-driving, a licence offence, having no insurance, having a vehicle in a dangerous condition, and having no vehicle licence.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes sentenced him to 10 weeks’ custody, suspended for two years and banned him from driving for two years.

We previously reported that Lis was driving a Land Rover Freelander on August 4 at 6.50am along the Ballamodha Straight in Ballasalla.

He lost control at Silverdale dip and the car rolled into a wooded area.

Police were called to the accident but by then Lis had left the scene and he was found running through Foxdale.

Injuries

He was described as being wet and muddy with minor injuries.

He was taken to police headquarters where he failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 39 - the legal limit is 35.

When interviewed Lis denied any knowledge of the crash initially. He then said he had drunk a can of Carling for breakfast after the collision time.

When asked why he was wet and muddy with injuries, Lis said he had fallen over the previous evening, then walked to Foxdale to purchase alcohol.

An expert’s report on the breathalyser reading concluded that, even taking into account a can of lager after the collision, the reading would have been 49.

The report said that there was significant alcohol missing from Lis’ account of events.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode handed in a letter of reference from Lis’ employer.

Mr Kermode said: ’Mr Lis had been drinking the night before the crash. He considered himself to be fit to drive. He left the scene, he would say, because he wanted to get help. He had only owned the vehicle for three or four weeks and hadn’t properly checked it.’

Lis has no previous convictions.

High Bailiff Mrs Hughes ordered that Lis take an extended test at the end of the ban and attend a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

Lis was also fined £900 and ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.