A doctor from Castletown has been banned from driving and fined £900 after admitting driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs.

Dr Alison Margaret Blackman, aged 61, of Douglas Road, previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to provide a breathalyser sample with a trial due to take place later this month.

But on Tuesday, she pleaded guilty to a replacement charge of driving whilst unfit.

She was banned from driving for 12 months with an order to retake her test at the end of the ban.

Prosecutor James Robinson told the court how, on May 18 at 10.15am, information was received regarding concerns over Blackman’s driving.

She was located by police on Cooil Road in Braddan who followed her Audi which was said to be swerving.

Swerving

Police put their vehicle’s sirens on but Blackman continued to drive through two roundabouts without stopping.

She stopped on Victoria Road and was said to be unsteady on her feet and smelling of alcohol.

A roadside breathalyser test had to be taken four times with Blackman eventually failing the test.

At police headquarters she was unable to provide a sample of breath due to health reasons.

A basis of plea was entered in which Blackman admitted drinking two thirds of a bottle of wine the night before she drove, between 8pm and 11pm.

Hindsight

She said that she had also taken prescription medication and only had a couple of hours sleep but accepted that she was unfit to drive.

Defence advocate Dawn Jones said that her client had difficulties relating to her health which she did not wish to go into in open court.

’She took the wrong decision to drive to her friends that day,’ said Ms Jones.

’Hindsight is a wonderful thing but there is an acceptance that she should not have driven.’