A 23-year-old Ramsey joiner has been fined £400 for having a vehicle on the road in a dangerous condition.

James Christopher Taylor, of May Hill, also had his driving licence endorsed with three penalty points and was ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.

Taylor pleaded guilty to the charge in a magistrates’ court while two other charges of having defective tyres were withdrawn by prosecutor Barry Swain.

Mr Swain told the court how, on March 9 at 9.30am, police saw Taylor’s Mercedes Vito van on Queen’s Promenade in Douglas.

It was parked in a layby and police reported that both front tyres were in poor condition so they spoke to Taylor.

The vehicle was taken to the test centre where an examination revealed a number of defects, including problems with headlights, brake pedals, the exhaust and the drive shaft, as well as the tyres.

Defending Taylor in court, advocate Lydia Mulligan said that he had been between jobs and was in a catch 22 situation.

’He knew he needed the van serviced but wasn’t in a position to do that without money which he earned by using the vehicle.’