A drink driver was so intoxicated he was barely able to speak when police arrested him, a court has heard.

Nicholas Parsons, from the Isle of Wight, was visiting for his father’s funeral when a police breath test revealed he was well over three times the legal drink drive limit.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told magistrates police were tipped off about a suspected drink driver leaving the EVF petrol station in Ramsey at about 4pm on November 20.

She said police looked at CCTV footage of 55-year-old Parsons at the petrol station before visiting an address where he was staying. A woman at the address confirmed he had borrowed her car.

When police spoke to Parsons, who lives at The Square, Freshwater, he was staggering and barely capable of speaking, she said.

He admitted drink driving and said he had gone to get wood for the fire. At the police station, he failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 112; the legal limit is 35.

Defence advocate Paul Glover asked that his client be sentenced straight away, bearing in mind he was not an Isle of Man resident.

Mr Glover said Parsons was in the island for his father’s funeral.

’There were no concerns about the standard of driving,’ he said.

’It is not a case where he has been swerving all over the road. We would also ask for a level of compassion. Mr Parsons’ head has been all over the place, to say the very least, since the passing of his father.’

The advocate went on to say his client had a shattered heel which impaired his walking and went some way to explain why he was said to have been staggering.

’He accepts he was drunk,’ said Mr Glover.

’But that might help explain some of his behaviour.

’He has spent the last two days at the police station. He has had a lot of time to reflect on matters. He has learnt a very harsh and valuable lesson. Bearing in mind everything he’s been through, we would ask you to stay away from immediate custody to allow Mr Parsons to grieve in peace and return home.’

Parsons was fined £2,000 and banned from driving for five years.

He must retake his test at the end of the ban and attend a drink-driving rehabilitation course. Magistrates ordered Parsons to pay the fine forthwith or face up to 80 days in default.