A drink-driver from Douglas has been banned from driving for five years and sentenced to community service and probation.

Linus Lange Malangfe, of Queen’s Promenade, failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 105. The legal limit is 35.

In our coverage on a previous court appearance, we reported that that Malangfe, who is 47, was seen driving on the New Castletown Road on August 5 at 7.48am.

A bus driver reported that Malangfe had overtaken his bus in his Honda which was weaving and drifting in the road, and speeding up then slowing down.

The bus driver said that he was concerned for the safety of his passengers and called 999.

Malangfe was said to have been driving on the wrong side of the road as he approached the Blackboards.

He was located by police in Ronaldsway but told police he had not drunk anything since the previous evening.

After failing a roadside breathalyser test, he failed a further one at police headquarters where he produced the 105 reading.

The court heard that he has no previous convictions.

Defence advocate David Keates said that his client had been drinking the night before the incident with a friend.

’It was not a deliberate offence,’ said the advocate. ’He made a mistake. He accepts his vehicle did cross into another lane, albeit part of his vehicle.

’He co-operated at the scene and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He is currently going through a divorce and this appears to have been a trigger for his drinking He is not a man who is used to drinking.’

Mr Keates went on to say that Malangfe’s employer was supporting him and had paid for alcohol counselling and that he had agreed to random breath tests at work.

He continued: ’He has made arrangements to sell his vehicle as he’s aware he will be receiving a lengthy disqualification.’

A probation report assessed Malangfe as a low risk of reoffending and harm to the public.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told him: ’You’ve been driving for 20 years with no blemishes on your record. You’ve now broken that spectacularly. You say you drunk two glasses of whiskey, which was half a bottle in your assessment. Those are very big glasses.’

Malangfe was sentenced to 12 months probation and 120 hours of community service.

He must also retake his test at the end of the ban and pay £125 prosecution costs.