A drink-driver who lost control of his car, resulting in it ending up on its side on the Mountain Road, has now been jailed.

Robert McIntosh Patterson, aged 59, was sentenced by magistrates on Thursday having previously pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court heard Patterson, of Willaston Crescent, Douglas, was travelling towards Ramsey on the Mountain Road near the Bungalow when he lost control and crashed at about 4.25pm on Friday, March 27.

Prosecutor Hazel Carroon said Patterson was driving north to drop off supplies to a relative, who was a key worker.

Patterson’s car ended up on its side and he had to be helped out by a member of the public who stopped.

When officers arrived Patterson failed a roadside breath test. He later took a test at police headquarters. His reading was 100. The legal limit is 35.

We previously reported that Patterson had pleaded guilty to the charge of drink driving on March 30 before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes.

The car he was driving belonged to a friend of Patterson’s, however, he did have permission to use it.

He told officers he understood he had taken a ’massive risk’ and that he should not have done so.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode said his client had set out to do a good turn but that he made a ’serious error of judgement’.

intoxicated

Mr Kermode added: ’He accepts he was intoxicated, but he was not speeding. He lost control and the car clipped the kerb existing the Bungalow turn.’

No other cars were involved in the crash and only Patterson was injured.

The advocate also noted his client’s work with the Drug and Alcohol Team, pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had cooperated with police since the crash.

Mr Kermode stated that a letter from DAT to the court noted they were ’genuinely shocked’ to hear that Patterson had driven while drunk.

Patterson also wrote to the court expressing his ’shame and embarrassment’ over the incident and said he intends never to drive again even after the end of his ban.

Mr Kermode also told the court that DAT had worked to create a treatment plan with Patterson.

After a long deliberation, magistrates decided to jail Patterson for 28 days.

They said that with his alcohol level being just below three times the legal limit he was a ’danger to yourself and other road users’.

Patterson was also banned from driving for four years. If he does choose to seek to drive again, he would also be required to pass the extended driving test.