A social night out ended in disaster for a Peel man who decided to drive home after missing his bus.

The Deputy High Bailiff’s court was told Edward Cubbin Moore parked his yellow Renault Traffic van in Kirk Michael, intending to catch the bus home and pick it up the following day.

When he missed his bus at 9.25pm he decided instead to drive back to his home at Albany Close.

For the prosecution, Barry Swain told the court police were tipped off about a possible drink driver and stopped Moore’s van on Ramsey Road, just north of Peel.

When Moore got out of the van, police could smell alcohol and he was breathalysed.

Back at the police station, a further breath test gave a reading of 43, slightly over the drink drive limit of 35.

Moore also provided a blood sample which showed just under 100 milligrams of alcohol, again slightly above the legal limit of 80.

’It’s a low reading in the circumstances and there were no other aggravating factors,’ Mr Swain told the court.

Moore, who is 48 years old, admitted drink driving on June 2.

Defending him, Jim Travers told the court his client had fully intended leaving his van in Kirk Michael and had made prior arrangements to collect it the next day.

But instead of returning to the pub for an hour and catching the next bus, he decided to get behind the wheel and drive home.

’He’s not making excuses. He’s not putting forward an ’’I thought I was OK to drive’’ excuse,’ said Mr Travers.

’He realised he was taking a risk. He’s been full and frank and honest and forthcoming.’

He stressed there had been no criticism of Moore’s actual driving, adding: ’He took the breath test and it was a comparatively low reading.

’He is extremely remorseful.’

He told the court a long driving ban could cause problems for Moore at work but a shorter one might be accommodated.

’It was a short trip back to Peel and all his paperwork was in order. I urge you to impose the minimum ban in this case,’ he said.

Passing sentence, Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said: ’You took the risk. The consequences of this will probably last well beyond any penalty I impose today.’

He was fined £850 and must pay £125 towards costs. He was banned from driving for the minimum permitted time of one year and must take an extended driving test at the end of it.