A suspected drink driver ended up having to give a blood sample after two sets of breath testing eqipment failed, a court has heard.

George Henry Howarth was tracked down at 2am on Ramsey Road heading towards Peel after police were tipped off he may be drink driving.

But when they breath tested him at the road side, their equipment proved to be faulty and no reading was obtained.

For the prosecution, James Robinson told the court the 57-year-old was then arrested and taken to be breathalysed at the police station, but this equipment too was malfunctioning. Finally, a reading of 125 was recorded using a blood sample, taken just after 4am. The legal blood-alcohol limit is 80.

Howarth, of Friary Park, Ballabeg, admitted drink driving on June 18.

Defending him, Peter Taylor said Howarth had been co-operative in giving blood voluntarily. Mr Taylor told the court Howarth and his wife had been on an overnight trip to Ramsey but an argument had erupted between the pair.

’So he absented himself. He was not thinking clearly. He made an impulsive decision to drive when other things were going on. He was over the limit, but not a long way over the limit.’

He pointed out Howarth only smelled of alcohol, there was no suggestion his eyes were glazed or he was staggering.

Sentencing him, Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told him: ’It was a foolish decision to drive, but it was one that was made in exceptional circumstances. You drove a considerable distance and you ran a considerable risk.’

He was fined £850 with £125 costs and banned from driving for two years. At the end of the ban, he must take an extended driving test before getting back behind the wheel.