Two Douglas men have been fined by magistrates after a late night driving lesson proved costly.

Kostas Modinos, aged 26, and Kyle James Cochrane, aged 17, both of Imperial Court, were both fined £400 and had their licences endorsed with four penalty points each.

Modinos admitted permitting his vehicle to be driven without insurance while Cochrane admitted driving without insurance.

The court heard how, on December 10 at 12.20am, police saw the pair in a BMW driving cautiously on Loch promenade.

Due to the late hour police stopped the car and Cochrane confirmed he was a learner with Modinos supervising.

They were asked for insurance and documents produced by Modinos did not cover Cochrane.

Modinos was adamant he had insurance to cover Cochrane so he was given five days to produce his documents. On December 13 Modinos went to police headquarters and admitted he had no such insurance.

Defence advocate David Clegg represented both men and said: ’It was Mr Modinos’ car, he was instructing Mr Cochrane entirely lawfully aside from the issue of insurance. The vehicle was driven cautiously so there was no issue there.

’It was simply a misunderstanding. He believed Mr Cochrane had been placed on his insurance. He had contacted the insurers saying he wanted it to be done but there was he felt a cultural problem, he is from Cyprus, he thought it had been done.’

Mr Clegg said Modinos held a clean driving licence while Cochrane held a provisional. Both men must also pay £50 costs each.