An Onchan man has been convicted of driving while unfit through the influence of drink and drugs.

Ryan Reid, of Eskdale Road, pleaded guilty to the charge and will be sentenced in summary court on August 15 after the preparation of a probation report.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how, at 7.25pm on April 14, a witness was driving towards Quarter Bridge from Lord Street when they saw Reid, who is 32, driving a Volkswagen Beetle about 40 metres in front of them.

The witness reported that although Reid was driving slowly he was ’all over the road’, driving into the cycle lane at one point.

He then drove through a red light at Pulrose bridge and almost collided with a taxi.

Reid stopped the car but then revved the engine for a few seconds before setting off again.

The witness said that Reid’s car was dangerously close to the car in front and was swerving from left to right, with two wheels mounting the kerb on two occasions.

Reid headed up Bray Hill and then crashed into the back of another car at the traffic lights.

The witness recorded the incident on a dashboard camera and said that they spoke to Reid after the crash but could barely understand him as his speech was so slurred.

Police arrived with Reid still in the car.

As he got out he was said to have almost fallen over as he was so unsteady on his feet.

A blood test later revealed that Reid was under the legal alcohol limit but also showed traces of cannabis and diazepam.

Reid told police that he had been drinking the night before and not taken his diazepam medication.

He said he had then taken the dosage for two days in one go and also finshed off some alcohol leftover from the night before.