A drink-driver who crashed into a car being driven by another alleged drink-driver on New Year’s Day has been sentenced to community service and probation.

Simon John Morris, aged 54, of Kerrowmoar, Sulby, was also banned from driving for four years with an order to retake his test at the end of the ban and complete a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

He admitted the offence after he failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 93. The legal limit is 35.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes sentenced him to 12 months probation and 100 hours community service.

The court heard that he had a similar conviction in 2008.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court how Morris was driving a silver Nissan Navara on January 1 at 3.15pm.

He crashed into a van which was coming in the other direction at Billown Dip.

The accident damaged both vehicles and caused the road to be blocked.

Morris failed a roadside breathalyser test with a reading of 106 and was taken to Noble’s Hospital for treatment.

He was discharged and taken to police custody at 7.10pm where he blew a reading of 62.

An expert’s back calculation set a reading of 93 at the time of driving.

He was given five days to produce insurance but did not hold a valid policy and also admitted that offence.

credit

Defence advocate Michael Mudge asked for credit to be given for his client’s guilty plea.

Mr Mudge said: ’Mr Morris recognises he has made some very stupid mistakes.

’Mr Morris was hit by another alleged drink-driver who was described as more at fault. ’The car was written off. If it wasn’t for him being over the limit he would be seen as a victim.’

The advocate went on to say that his client had some issues which he needed to address.

Regarding the insurance, Mr Mudge said: ’He was in the process of purchasing the vehicle and believed he wasn’t yet the legal owner of it, so he thought he was covered by a paragraph allowing him to drive vehicles belonging to other people.’

A probation report said that Morris had been dependent on alcohol and this had led to the offence.

He was said to have participated in a Zoom meeting with Motiv8 and had abstained from drinking for a month.

Mr Mudge went on to say that a custodial sentence would not address underlying issues.

A probation report assessed Morris as a low to medium risk of reoffending.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that it had appeared the other driver was at fault but told Morris: ’Who knows, if you hadn’t been intoxicated you might have avoided the collision.

’You very clearly shouldn’t have been behind the wheel of a car.

’You were driving at a busy time of the day.

Morris was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs and £260 for the back calculation report, which he will pay at a rate of £20 per week

The driver of the other car will appear in court at a later date and is yet to enter a plea.