A drink-driver who was more than twice the legal limit was driving with a ladder on the roof of his van, a court has heard.

Bricklayer Neil Edward Allcote produced a reading of 210 via a blood test. The legal limit is 80.

The 44-year-old will be sentenced on June 23 after a probation report has been completed.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that, on February 26 at 10.41pm, police received a report about a man driving a white Vauxhall Vivaro van with the ladder on the roof while intoxicated.

Officers located Allcote at Farrants Way in Castletown as he turned into Castle Court flats. When they spoke to him, he was described as smelling of alcohol, slurring his words, and unsteady on his feet.

Allcote, who lives at Scarlett Close in Castletown, said that he had drunk a can of lager and eaten a pie at Peel Road petrol station.

He failed a roadside breathalyser test and was subsequently arrested.

After being taken to police headquarters, the Intoxilyzer machine was not working, so he provided a sample of blood which was later analysed and produced the reading of 210.

questions

During a police interview Allcote answered ‘no comment’ to all questions.

The court heard that he has no previous similar convictions.

Defence advocate Winston Taylor handed in a letter to the court from Motiv8 relating to his client and asked for a probation report to be prepared before sentencing.

Mr Taylor said that there was a lot of background information of which the court should be made aware.

The advocate pointed out that Allcote had not sought to avoid taking the test and had only given blood because the breathalyser machine was not working.

Mr Taylor asked magistrates not to impose a bail condition not to drive, saying this would give Allcote time to sort matters out before his inevitable ban.

Magistrates ordered that the probation report consider all sentencing options, including custody.

Bail was granted in the sum of £500 with a condition to live at his home address.