A motorist who admitted drink-driving has been banned from driving for a year.
The 49-year-old appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes for sentencing on Tuesday.
Prosecutor James Robinson told the court that Clague was driving a Peugeot 207 on September 20.
Police saw him at 8.30pm driving on South Quay in Douglas and followed him onto the Old Castletown Road.
He was stopped on Kewaigue hill and said to be smelling of alcohol.
When asked if he had been drinking, Clague told police: ’Yes, I’ve had a couple of beers.’
He failed a roadside breathalyser test and was subsequently arrested and taken to police headquarters.
Once there, a further test produced the reading of 50. Clague was given the option of also taking a blood test, as is the law for readings of 50 and under, but he declined.
Apology
When interviewed Clague told police: ’I drunk four or five bottles of beer over a few hours.’
Defence advocate Stephen Wood said: ’Unfortunately this is one of those cases where an individual chooses to consume some alcohol and believes sufficient time has passed whereby they will be below the limit.
’Regrettably Mr Clague has fallen into that particular trap. He wishes to apologise to the court for appearing after several years.’
Mr Wood went on to ask for credit to be given for his client’s co-operation with the police and guilty plea.
’He was offered the blood test but he chose not to take that and simply accepted the reading,’ said the advocate.
As well as the driving ban, Clague was fined £800 and ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs, which he will pay at a rate of £100 per month.