A motorist who drove under the influence of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, has had his community service order replaced with a fine.

Thirty-five-year-old Paul Michael Dale Ford was said to have completed 15 hours of a 120 hour order.

Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood said that one reason the community service order had been imposed was due to Ford’s difficult financial position at the time of sentencing.

However, this was said to have now improved and the probation report recommended replacing the community service order with a fine, as Ford was said to be working six days a week.

Prosecuting advocate Annie Bannister told the court that the offence was committed on March 2 in 2025.

Police were on patrol in Willaston when they saw Ford in a Volkswagen Golf, parked outside Spar.

He was sitting in the driving seat.

Officers then later saw the vehicle being driven on Keppel Road in Willaston, and checks showed that its tax had expired.

They stopped the Golf on Conister Road but a female was driving, with Ford as a passenger.

However, CCTV footage was reviewed that showed Ford had been driving the vehicle earlier.

A drug wipe test later produced a reading of 114 for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.

The test also showed him to be over the limit for cannabis, but he subsequently produced a prescription for that drug, so was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Deputy High Bailiff Ms Braidwood said that she had read information provided by probation services in support of changing the sentence to a fine.

Ford, of Willaston Crescent, Douglas, was fined £900, which he will pay at a rate of £30 per week.

The community service order has now been revoked.