A restaurant manager caught drink-driving on Christmas Day has been sentenced to 100 hours’ community service and banned from driving for three years.

Mahmoud Hassan drove after having a meal with his family and going to a work Christmas party.

He later failed a breathalyser test with a reading almost three times the drink-drive limit.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told the 38-year-old: ’As someone in the hospitality trade you should have been far more conscious of the consequences.’

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that a witness at Cambridge Terrace in Douglas was at home on December 25 at 9.30pm, when they heard a bang outside.

They looked outside and said that they saw Hassan struggling to park his silver Toyota Yaris.

He was described as ’revving’ the car engine and moving the vehicle back and forth.

The witness said that they saw him get out of the car and stumble into his house.

Police arrived and saw that the Yaris had suffered front-end damage and a wall nearby was also damaged.

When officers called at Hassan’s home, at Albion Terrace, they reported that he was slurring his words, unsteady on his feet, smelling of alcohol, and had glazed eyes.

He was arrested and said: ’I’m sorry.’

At police headquarters, Hassan failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 93. The legal limit is 35.

When interviewed, he admitted drink-driving.

The court heard that he has no previous convictions.

A probation report said that Hassan was originally from Egypt and had lived on the island for 11 years.

The report said that he was currently renting accommodation after the break-up of his marriage and he was a manager at a local restaurant.

Hassan told probation that he had been at a family meal early in the afternoon, consuming one glass of wine, and had then driven home.

He said he had then decided to move his car as it had been parked on a double yellow line.

However, Hassan said he then decided to drive to the restaurant at which he worked, on the spur of the moment, to see friends and work colleagues.

He said that he was feeling upset about his family and had some whisky while at the restaurant, which he did not normally drink.

Hassan admitted he had then got in his car and driven home again.

The probation report recommended either a financial penalty or community service as an appropriate penalty, but said that community service would be hard for Hassan as he already worked six days a week.

Defence advocate David Reynolds asked for credit to be given for his client’s guilty plea and co-operation with the police.

Mr Reynolds said that Hassan was a designated official at the restaurant so there could be further repercussions in relation to that.

’He has been struggling since the end of his marriage,’ said the advocate.

Hassan was also ordered to take an extended test at the end of his ban, complete a drink-driving rehabilitation course, and pay £125 prosecution costs.