A man from Staffordshire has been fined £900 and banned from driving for two years for drink-driving.

Thomas John Price, of Flaxley Road, Rugeley, was twice the drink-drive limit when he was arrested and must also retake his driving test at the end of his ban.

He was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs after pleading guilty to the offence in summary court.

Prosecutor Michael Jelski told the court how, at 1.50am on June 10, police were dealing with an unrelated matter at the Sea Terminal car park when Price was seen driving a BMW through the roundabout at speed before parking in the car park.

The 30-year-old then sat in the car smoking a cigarette and was spoken to by police.

He was said to be smelling of alcohol, slurring his words and having glazed eyes, and was subsequently arrested.

At police headquarters the breathalyser machine was not working properly so a blood sample had to be taken.

The sample produced a reading of 160 - the legal limit is 80.

Defending Price in court, his advocate Peter Taylor asked for his client to be given credit for his immediate guilty plea and for returning to the island.

’He came back to face the music,’ said Mr Taylor. ’He is a person the court can trust going forward.

’He had been living with his girlfriend in Onchan. It was a volatile relationship. An argument developed and it was the last straw for him. He wanted to get away from her. He had some drink and misjudged the situation. He was going to wait for the first ferry and leave the Isle of Man.

’Obviously he misjudged the amount of alcohol he had. But he did choose to leave and distance himself from his girlfriend. He deeply regrets driving. He did drive from Onchan but there were no reports of any dangerous driving. It took the policeman 10 minutes to go over to him so perhaps it wasn’t of the highest importance. He has returned to the island and accepts he will be banned and face a substantial financial penalty.’

Mr Taylor went on to say that Price could offer to pay £50 immediately, then £200 per month.

However, Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered that Price pay the full fine and costs immediately or face being jailed for 60 days in default of payment.

The Deputy High Bailiff said: ’The reading is a high one, twice the drink-drive limit.

’I take into account you had driven from Onchan but there was no complaint about your driving, other than taking the roundabout at high speed. But you have a history of offences for dishonesty, one of robbery in 2009 and you have no ties to the Isle of Man. I order that payment is made forthwith.’