A trainee butcher who failed to provide a sample of breath at police headquarters after crashing his car has been banned from driving for five years.

Juan James Qualtrough, of Fistard Road, Port St Mary, admitted the offence as well as one of driving whilst unfit.

In addition to the ban, he was sentenced to 160 hours of community service when he appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes on Tuesday.

The court heard that the 22-year-old crashed his car into a wall on Shore Road in Port St Mary on October 6.

He called the police himself and admitted at the scene that he had been drinking.

Qualtrough failed the roadside breathalyser test but at police headquarters he was unable to provide a sample despite making attempts.

Defence advocate Kate Alexander handed in letters of reference for her client and asked the court to follow the recommendation of a probation report which had suggested community service for the offences.

Ms Alexander said that, although Qualtrough had said he was not drunk, he did accept he had consumed alcohol to the point of impairment and that he should not have been behind the wheel.

’He phoned the police himself after the collision,’ said Ms Alexander.

’He remained at the scene and admitted he had been drinking.

Sample

’He provided a roadside sample which was positive though he struggled to do so on the third attempt.

’He attempted to provide at the station but has not been able to blow for long enough.’

Ms Alexander went on to say that Qualtrough was being trained to take over the business he was working in hopefully in the future. She continued: ’He hasn’t driven since the offences so for about four months he has taken that decision voluntarily.

’He is well known in the community because of where he works and has to face that embarrassment.’

A probation report assessed Qualtrough as a low risk of reoffending and of harm to others.

Passing sentence, Mrs Hughes told him: ’I have taken into account your young age.

’You only passed your test in July.

’It is going to be a long time before you are eligible again for a licence.’

Mrs Hughes added that Tynwald considers failing to providing a sample to be more serious than providing and failing the test as failing to provide could allow someone to hide the fact that they had consumed a lot of alcohol.

Qualtrough must also retake his test after the ban, attend a drink-driving rehabilitation course and pay £125 prosecution costs.