A 29-year-old man from Santon has changed his plea to guilty to drink-driving after previously denying the offence.

Mihai Mora, of Murray Lake Drive, failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 119 but claims he drunk a bottle and a half of wine after he was seen driving. The limit is 35.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes adjourned the case until November 17 to allow time for defence advocate Matthew Wilshaw to enter a basis of plea in relation to that and for the prosecution to consider the basis.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court how Mora was seen by a witness driving on September 9 at 1am on Marathon Road in Douglas.

His driving was described as ’erratic’ and crossing the centre line of the road a number of times.

The witness also described Mora’s driving as speeding up and slowing down for no reason.

The witness said they then saw Mora stop at the EVF garage on Peel Road and ’stagger’ to the shop, then ’stagger’ back out before driving off again.

Police were called by garage staff and Mora was found sat in the car at Mona Drive at 1.57am.

He was arrested and taken to police headquarters where he failed the breathalyser test with the 119 reading.

When interviewed Mora said he had been to a barbeque and drunk two cans of lager and a glass of wine.

He said he had then driven to his girlfriend’s home and had an argument so he left to go to the garage, to get some cigarettes and to ’calm down’.

Mora said he then returned to her house to pack some things but drank a bottle and a half of wine then went outside and sat in the car.

When asked about staggering at the garage he claimed it had been due to alcohol consumed earlier in the day and because he was tired after a ’long day’.

An expert report obtained by defence advocate Mr Wilshaw calculated a reading of 48, taking into consideration the bottle and a half of wine.

However, High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that the account of him staggering did not fit with a person who would have blown 48.

Mrs Hughes ordered that the case be adjourned for a more detailed basis of plea to be submitted and for the prosecution to consider whether it would be accepted.

Bail continues.