A 71-year-old drink-driver from Peel has been fined £1,300 and banned from the roads for a year.

Brian Walker had previously denied the offence, but appearing before Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood recently, changed his plea to guilty.

He’s also been ordered to pay £500 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that police were on patrol in Peel on August 28, at 7.21pm, when they saw Walker driving a Citroen Berlingo in Douglas Street.

He was stopped, and when he got out, officers described him as having glazed eyes, unsteady on his feet, and smelling of alcohol.

A breathalyser test, at police headquarters, produced a reading of 50, above the legal limit of 35.

The court heard that he had a previous similar conviction, but in 2006.

Defence advocate Helen Lobb entered a basis of plea on behalf of her client, in which Walker said he’d only been driving a distance of 160 to 170 yards, hadn’t gone over 30mph, and there’d been no issue with his standard of driving.

Ms Lobb submitted letters of reference for the defendant, who lives at Ballabooie Road, and said no roadside breathalyser test had been taken.

The advocate said Walker provided a lot of support to people in the community, and also relied on his licence for his work, as he travelled to the UK to inspect vehicles, then brought them back for onward sale.

Ms Lobb said her client’s employment would now cease, but he intended on looking for new work.

The advocate added that Walker had had a hip operation and been taking eye medication at the time of the offence, which may have explained his unsteadiness and glazed eyes.

He will pay at a rate of £50 per month and must also take an extended test after his ban ends.