A cabbie who crashed his car with his young son inside has failed in his attempt to win back his licence early after a drink-driving ban.

Alan Edward Bell, aged 46, of Christian Road, Douglas, was banned for six years in July 2015 but hoped to win back his licence to resume working as a taxi driver.

Prosecutor Roger Kane told the court that the offence had occurred in June 2015 when Mr Bell was seen driving erratically on Breakwater Road in Port Erin, with his 11-year-old son in the front passenger seat.

He was said to have driven at between speeds of 50 and 70mph in a 20mph zone before crashing into the sea wall, causing the car’s airbags to be deployed.

Father and son left the scene and Mr Bell was later arrested, failing a breathalyser test with a reading of 104 - the legal limit is 35.

Mr Kane opposed the early restoration of the licence saying that just over three years of the six-year ban had been completed.

’Presumably the ban was so long not only for the high reading, but for the circumstances of the offence itself,’ said the prosecutor.

Mr Bell represented himself and told Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes that, at the time of the offence, he had a house and a job, but had lost all that because of his actions.

He said that he had ’cleaned up his act’ and if he got his licence back, would attempt to get his taxi licence back.

Mrs Hughes questioned whether he had taken a drink-drive rehabilitation course as instructed but Mr Bell said he had not as he had not realised he had to.

’I am deeply sorry for causing the accident, especially with the young lad in the car,’ he said.

’The way my life has changed, it’s not likely to happen again.

’I lost everything because of the incident.’

Mrs Hughes said that the minimum ban for the reading of 104 was five years and Mr Bell was still within that period.

She said: ’I am not satisfied it is appropriate for me to restore your driving licence to you.

’I would advise you to perhaps wait until the five year period is passed or is about to be passed and you have taken the drink-drive rehabilitation course.’