A 30-year-old man who refused to name the driver of a vehicle to police has been fined £300.

Jude Sneddon, of Clifton Terrace, Douglas, was also ordered to pay £50 costs by magistrates after he pleaded guilty to failing to give information to police as to a driver.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court that a Subaru Impreza was seen being driven on Circular Road at 1.15am on August 29 last year.

A witness who was stopped at a red light said they heard a screeching of tyres and saw the Impreza with no lights on and on the wrong side of the road.

It then mounted the pavement and a pedestrian was seen falling to the ground.

The Impreza was seen by another witness squeezing between two other vehicles with one of them having to take evasive action as the car left the scene.

A woman was found on the ground in tears.

Police spoke to Sneddon about the incident but he refused to say who was driving the car.

Defence advocate Peter Taylor said: ’Mr Sneddon was approached by police to give the name of the driver. He is reluctant to deal with the police and was reluctant to give the name of a friend who had been driving.

’Unfortunately said friend has died so he could have named him, but in his grief he didn’t want to blacken his name.’

Mr Taylor said that Sneddon had thought the matter had been dropped and was surprised when he heard recently that it was proceeding as it was nearly time barred.

Magistrates ordered Sneddon to pay the fine and costs at a rate of £10 per week.