A pensioner from St John’s has felt the long arm of the law after being caught driving without a licence four times in three months.

William Thomas Tickle, aged 72, of Ballacraine, has had his car seized after disregarding instructions not to drive because he’s medically unfit.

The Department of Infrastructure wrote to him in April confirming it was suspending his licence after advice from his GP and consultant.

Tickle was told in order to reinstate it he would have to take a fitness to drive test - something he failed to do.

On May 25 he was stopped by police who reported him for not driving in accordance with his licence and for having no insurance.

Three weeks later, on June 18, officers spotted his BMW parked on Main Road in St John’s and reported him again - he told officers: ’I drove it - I had to go shopping.’

On July 7 Tickle was reported for a third time after being seen driving home.

This time he told police: ’I’m guilty but I’m stuck here by myself with no deliveries - I needed food.’

Exactly two weeks later, on July 21, officers were alerted to the fact Tickle’s car was at the post office in St John’s.

When questioned Tickle said: ’All I’ve done is driven to the shop.’

At Douglas Courthouse on Thursday Tickle admitted eight offences - four of not driving in accordance with his licence and four of having no insurance.

His advocate, Kate Alexander, told the court Tickle had no friends or family to rely on for help adding: ’Mr Tickle doesn’t accept he is medically unfit to drive.’

Prosecutor Mike Jelski asked the magistrates to support his "unusual application" and seize the BMW telling the bench: ’This vehicle has been used in the commission of all these offences.’

Magistrates agreed to the request - they also imposed a £400 fine and endorsed Tickle’s driving licence with 24 penalty points.

Under the totting up procedure it means he’s disqualified from driving for 18 months.