A Port Erin pensioner has been banned from driving after admitting driving without insurance or tax.

Graham Peter Joughin, of Ballafurt, admitted both offences and was fined £150 and banned for six months.

Prosecutor Roger Kane told the court how the 67-year-old was stopped by police at Sulby Bridge on April 13.

His vehicle licence had expired in December and Joughin told police he could not afford insurance.

Defence advocate James Peterson said: ’Mr Joughin is on a state pension of £135 per week. ’He could not afford insurance or tax but nevertheless he decided to drive the vehicle and for that he can offer no excuse.’

Magistrates chair Ken Faragher told Joughin: ’Had you been involved in an accident with anyone they would have had no recourse to you because you were uninsured. It wasn’t an oversight, you were fully aware you weren’t insured.’

Joughin told the court that he had not been driving for two months as the police had his car but clerk to the justices James Brooks told him: ’Carry on not driving for the next six months.’