A 34-year-old Ramsey man has been fined £600 for careless driving and possessing class ’C’ drugs.

David Sleeman, of Auldyn Meadow Drive, admitted both offences to magistrates who also endorsed his licence with four penalty points.

Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court that police were called to Waterloo Road in Ramsey on September 2 last year at 2.20am.

Sleeman has crashed his Audi TT into metal railings.

He was said to be unsteady on his feet with incoherent speech but a breathalyser test proved negative.

Blood was taken at Noble’s Hospital and results later showed the presence of THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, diazepam and temazepam, but none above the UK legal levels for driving which are used for guidance here.

A search of his car found a blister pack of diazepam.

When interviewed Sleeman gave ’no comment’ responses to questions but said: ’I am not prescribed diazepam.’

The court heard that he has a previous conviction for careless driving in 2013.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers handed in letters of reference for his client and said that he had been driving for 11 years.

The advocate said: ’Mr Sleeman has a good record - only one matter for a similar offence and it’s over seven years ago. It was a short period of driving. He was driving from the car park, turned right and into railings.’

Mr Rodgers went on to say that Sleeman worked in Ballasalla but lived in Ramsey so a ban would put his employment in jeopardy.

He also pointed out that it was now eight months since the offence and there had been no further incidents.

’Mr Sleeman has used diazepam in the past,’ said the advocate. ’But he has been working with Motiv8 and hasn’t taken any substances since the incident.

Magistrates fined Sleeman £350 for careless driving and £250 for class ’C’ possession.

He was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs which he will pay along with the fines at a rate of £20 per week.