A man who crashed his friend’s car while he was twice the drink-drive limit has been banned from driving for three years.

Police were called to the scene of a car crash at Ballafesson Road in Port Erin, at 1.10am on June 17.

Steven Adam Harris, of Stenning Place, in Castletown, left the scene of the crash but shortly afterwards approached police, telling them that he was the driver.

Harris, aged 26, admitted drink-driving and taking a vehicle without consent.

He was banned for three years and ordered to do 120 hours of community service when he appeared before Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes for sentencing on Tuesday.

We previously reported how Harris failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 79 - the legal limit is 35.

He told probation services that he had drunk eight or nine pints of beer before driving.

Harris had crashed a Volkswagen Golf and left it unattended.

However, shortly afterwards he approached police telling them he was the driver.

He admitted he had been drinking and that the car did not belong to him.

Harris told police he had been at a football club dinner, drinking from 4pm, and had picked up a friend’s car keys after being invited back to his house to continue the party.

He then decided to go for a drive but did not know why he had done it.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes queried why Harris had ended up crashing in Port Erin after leaving the party in Colby when he lived in Castletown.

Defence advocate Rebecca Cubbon said: ’Mr Harris can’t give a lot of explanation for it.

’He can only think he may have been going to a friend’s.

’He knew he was going to drink so he left his car at home. He had put preventative steps in place. He planned to get a taxi home.

’Alcohol clearly clouded his judgement. He described it as a "bizarre and massively disappointing thing for me to have done".

Ms Cubbon handed in references for her client, one written by the friend whose car he had taken, and one from his employer of 10 years.

’He knows he’s going to be disqualified today,’ said the advocate.

’He has already sold his vehicle.

’He is embarrassed he has put himself and members of the public in a dangerous situation.’

Harris was sentenced to 80 hours community service for drink-driving and 40 hours for taking a vehicle without consent.

He was banned from driving for three years with an order to retake his test and must also pay £125 prosecution costs.