An IT engineer has been fined £1,500 and banned from driving for two years for drink-driving.

George Gibson failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 59 - the legal limit is 35.

Magistrates also ordered him to retake his test at the end of his ban and pay £125 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court how police were called on August 9 at 4.15am after a report of a driver contravening a one way system in Douglas.

Police located the 36-year-old’s Vauxhall Zafira at Rosemount unoccupied.

A light was on in the property it was parked outside and when police called at the house Gibson was inside.

He told police he had driven the car around 500 metres to his friend’s house then intending to get a taxi to Ballasalla.

He was asked why he had only driven to his friend’s and said: ’Because I had a drink.’

Gibson then told police: ’I’m not too drunk to drive, I’m just too drunk to drive that far.’

He failed a roadside breathalyser test and was subsequently arrested and taken to police headquarters.

Once there he failed a further test with a reading of 59 - the legal limit is 35.

Gibson, who lives in Abbots Close, Ballasalla, said: ’I thought I was being responsible.’

When interviewed by police Gibson said his car had been parked at 1886 bar in Regent Street and that he had drunk four pints and a shot of tequila.

He said that he thought it would be ok to move the car to his friend’s house before getting a taxi.

The court heard that he has no previous convictions.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode said: ’Mr Gibson was out socialising and he made a serious error of judgement to move his car from where it was parked.

’His aim was to park on a friend’s drive. Clearly that was a significant error of judgement.’

Mr Kermode asked for credit to be given for his client’s guilty plea and co-operation with the police, saying that he had made full admissions.

’He is embarrassed and sorry about his decision to move the vehicle,’ said the advocate.

Chair of the magistrates Gill Eaton told Gibson: ’You should have gone with your first instinct that you were too drunk to drive.’

He will pay the fine and costs at a rate of £100 per month.