A 20-year-old from Douglas has been fined and banned for drink-driving.

Joseph Luke Savage, of Ballabrooie Drive, failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 55 - the legal limit is 35.

Magistrates fined him £1,000 and banned him from driving for two years with an order to retake his test at the end of the ban.

Prosecutor Roger Kane told the court that police saw Savage driving a Ford Fiesta on Peel Road in Douglas on September 21 with no lights on.

He was followed and stopped on Barrack Street.

When asked if he had been drinking he admitted that he had drunk a ’couple of pints’ but didn’t think he was over the limit.

He failed a roadside breathalyser test and a further one at police headquarters produced the 55 reading. The court heard that he has no previous convictions.

Defence advocate Kate Alexander handed in a reference from Savage’s employer.

The advocate said: ’Clearly Mr Savage is very well thought of.

’Unfortunately this will place his employment at risk.

’It is a story you will have heard many times before.

’Mr Savage had a couple of pints with friends and thought he was OK to drive. Clearly that was not the case.’

Ms Alexander went on to say that there had been no complaints about the standard of driving aside from the issue of his lights not being on.

Magistrates also ordered Savage to pay £125 prosecution costs.

He will pay the fine and costs at a rate of £50 per week.