A TT fan from Merseyside crashed his bike after drinking, fracturing his pelvis.

Scaffolder Jordan Von-Bargen, of Albert Schweitzer Avenue, Bootle, pleaded guilty to a charge of drink-driving.

He appeared before Magistrates for sentencing on Friday where he was banned from riding for two years and fined £1,000.

Prosecutor Roger Kane told the court how, in TT race week, on June 7 at 3.28am, police were called to an accident at Johnny Watterson’s Lane, Douglas.

A taxi driver told police that he had picked up Von-Bargen, aged 28, and another man from Bordello’s nightclub, in Douglas, and taken them both up to the Grandstand.

He said that the pair were discussing riding their bikes.

Ambulance

The driver explained that he dropped them off but then as he drove on Johnny Watterson’s Lane he saw steam and debris with a bike on the grass verge.

Von-Bargen, was lying on the ground by a lamppost and asked for an ambulance.

His Suzuki 750 was on the verge.

At Noble’s Hospital, a blood test produced a blood alcohol reading of 141 - the legal limit is 80.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood said: ’Mr Von-Bargen has come back to the island to face the music.

’He was over with friends for the TT enjoying festivities.

’He accepts the day before he was drinking but he had stopped well before the incident.

’He stayed out to watch a band but was not drinking.

’He thought, as many people do who come before the court, that he was okay but clearly he wasn’t.’

Mr Wood went on to say that Von-Bargen had decided to move his bike from the Grandstand as he did not want it to be an inconvenience the next day for race organisers.

Limp

His bike had landed on top of him when he crashed on Johnny Watterson’s Lane, causing a fractured pelvis.

’He will have a limp to remind him of his stupidity,’ said the advocate.

’He was laid up for 12 weeks out of work which placed a considerable burden on his family.

’He is now back in work but the loss of his licence may impact his ability to continue that work.’

The court heard that Von-Bargen had no previous convictions.

Passing sentence, Magistrates chairman Julian Ashcroft told him: ’You have made a big mistake in your life and the Isle of Man takes a very serious view of people who drink and drive on our roads.’

Von-Bargen must also retake his test at the end of the ban and pay £50 prosecution costs.