A 24-year-old man who refused to take a breathalyser test has been jailed for 10 weeks.

Owen John Hawthorn, of Tynwald Close, St John’s, later admitted that he had drunk ’seven or eight pints’ before driving home from Peel.

Hawthorn pleaded guilty to the charge as well as having no insurance and failing to produce a driving licence.

He was also banned from driving for five years, must retake his test at the end of the ban and attend a drink-drive rehabilitation course.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told Hawthorn while jailing him: ’Failing to provide a specimen is considered more serious than providing one, in court and in Tynwald. This is reflected in the maximum penalties, six months for driving while over the prescribed limit but two years for failing to provide a sample.

’By failing to provide one the court can only conclude that you did so knowing the reading would have been high.

’This was a deliberate decision not to provide a sample. You had consumed seven or eight pints, you knew you shouldn’t have been driving.

’A clear message has to go out that those who fail to provide a specimen can expect more severe sentences than those who co-operate.’

We previously reported how, on March 12 at 12.30am, police received information about a possible drink-driver who was at a Peel takeaway.

Police attended and saw Hawthorn driving out of Peel towards St John’s.

He was described as driving ’at speed’, and ’erratically’.

Hawthorn was stopped by the police in St John’s and was said to have glazed eyes, be slurring his words and smelling of alcohol.

Police said that an open bottle for blue WKD was found in the car, together with three unopened bottles.

Asked if he had been drinking he admitted he had and he was subsequently arrested and taken to police headquarters.

Once there, he was required to provide two samples of breath. He managed to provide one partial sample but failed to provide any second sample.

He could give no medical reason why he was unable to do so.

Defending Hawthorn in court his advocate Deborah Myerscough had urged the Deputy High Bailiff to follow the recommendation of the probation report which had suggested community service.

Ms Myerscough said: ’Despite being a young man Mr Hawthorn has a number of responsibilites. He is a very hardworking individual and has held down a job since he was 14. He has a very young family with two children under five. He has realised that, with a moment of stupidity, he has put it all at risk. This young man has had a complete wake-up call.’