A 59-year-old man has admitted drink-driving after driving away from the scene of an accident.

Patrick Henry Smith, of Callow’s Yard, Castletown, failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 91. The legal limit is 35.

A second charge of failing to stop after an accident was withdrawn by the prosecution in light of the drink-driving guilty plea.

The High Bailiff heard that he already has 10 points on his licence for being drunk in charge of a vehicle in July 2020.

He will be sentenced on April 6 after a probation report has been completed.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court that a woman reported an Audi A3 being involved in a collision on Arbory Street in Castletown on February 3 at 9.45pm and then driving away.

The Audi was found in a car park at Farrant’s Way unattended with the engine still warm.

A bottle of vodka was found in the car’s footwell and the vehicle had suffered damage consistent with the accident reported by the woman.

Police inquiries identified Smith as the owner and he was found in Callow’s Yard.

He was said to be unsteady on his feet and initially refused to give officers his name.

After being arrested and taken to police headquarters he failed a breathalyser test with the 91 reading.

When interviewed he answered ’no comment’ to all questions.

Defence advocate Peter Taylor asked for a probation report to be prepared before sentencing.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered that the report consider all sentencing options, including custody.

Bail was granted in the sum of £500 with conditions to reside at his home address, contact probation, not to drive, and not to leave the island without court consent.