A repeat drink-driver who was driving a car with a wheel missing while he was banned has been jailed for 10 weeks.

John Charles Walster, of Endfield Avenue, Port St Mary, was nearly three times the drink-drive limit when he was stopped by police on December 1 while driving a Ford Fiesta with a missing wheel.

The 29-year-old was already banned from the wheel as he had not retaken his test following a drink-driving conviction in 2010.

Walster admitted offences of drink-driving, driving while disqualified, having no insurance, and possessing cocaine.

Deputy High Bailiff Chris Arrowsmith sentenced him to 10 weeks’ custody for drink-driving, eight weeks’ custody for disqualified driving, and seven days’ custody for cocaine possession, all to run concurrently, with no separate penalty for the insurance offence.

We previously reported that police were on patrol in Richmond Hill in Braddan at 1.20am when they saw Walster heading towards Douglas.

There were sparks coming from his car, which was making a grinding noise.

The front nearside wheel was completely missing and Walster was subsequently stopped by officers.

He failed a roadside breathalyser test and was subsequently taken to police headquarters.

There, he failed a further test with a reading of 100 - the legal limit is 35.

Walster then tried to swallow a small package containing white powder but was restrained before he could do so.

The substance was later identified as 0.1 grams of cocaine valued at £10.

Defence advocate Paul Glover asked for credit to be given for his client’s guilty pleas.

’Although he does have previous his most significant convictions are 10 years ago when he was 20.

Foolish

’He would say he has done a lot of growing up in that time.’

Mr Glover said that Walster had worked as a fisherman but had more recently found alternative employment.

The advocate went on to say that Walster made maintenance payments to his ex-partner and their child which would be affected if he went into custody.

’He obviously made a very foolish mistake to drive that evening,’ said Mr Glover.

He urged the court to follow the recommendation of a probation report which suggested community service as a penalty.

Deputy High Bailiff Chris Arrowsmith told Walster: ’I appreciate custody will impact on others nevertheless it seems a period of custody is the only appropriate sentence.’