A repeat drink-driver who crashed his car then abandoned it in the middle of the road has been fined £1,500 and banned from driving for six years.

Francois Cody Cruger, of Ballabrooie Road, Peel, was more than twice the limit when the incident happened and told police that he couldn’t even remember the crash.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes also fined him £150 for having no vehicle licence after he admitted both offences.

A third charge of failing to report an accident was withdrawn.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that police were called to the scene of the crash on December 21 at 1.25am on the A4 Peel to Kirk Michael Road at Ballagyr where a Toyota Corola had been left in the middle of the road.

No-one was present and the car had suffered front end damage after hitting a wall.

Checks identified Cruger, who is a mechanic, as the owner and found that the licence had expired in December 2018.

Police started a search of the area and found Cruger walking about a mile along the road from the accident.

He was said to have appeared dishevelled and muddy and was using his mobile phone. Police reported that he was unsteady on his feet and slurring his words.

He was arrested and at police headquarters failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 82 - the legal limit is 35.

The court heard that Cruger has a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2015 for which he was banned from driving for two years.

A probation report said that he had moved to the island in 2013 from Zimbabwe as his sister lived here and he was currently looking for work.

Cruger told probation that, on December 21, he had been working all day then and then planned a night out with his workmates.

He said he was due to be picked up but that didn’t happen so he drove and left his car at the House of Manannan in Peel.

He said that a taxi had arrived for his group at 12.15am but he forgot his jacket and went back into the pub to get it.

He claimed he then had no recollection of the rest of the night, aside from a slight memory of being charged at the police station.

The report said that Cruger was offering to pay up to £1,200 forthwith towards any fine and that he may return to Zimbabwe by April.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered him to also pay prosecution costs of £125.

He must pay £1,000 forthwith and the remainder of the fine and costs by January 31.

Mrs Hughes also ordered him to retake his test after the ban and attend a drink-driving rehabilitation course.