A motorist with an appalling record of drink driving has lost an appeal against his latest conviction.

James Marcus Doherty was jailed for 18 weeks and disqualified from driving for seven years for driving while over the limit.

On the evening of Saturday, September 14 last year, police were called to the EVF garage in Ramsey following report of concerns about the driver of a black Range Rover. They could not find the car but 50 minutes later, were called to a disturbance at Kerroo Glass in the town. The Range Rover was parked outside the property. Mr Doherty was identified and appeared drunk - he was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. He was arrested and taken to Douglas police station where he was breath tested and charged with driving whilst over the prescribed limit.

Mr Doherty pleaded not guilty to the offence in court and claimed he had not drunk anything before arriving at the party at Kerroo Glass.

Following a trial in the summary court on March 6 this year he was convicted and then sentenced the same day by the Deputy High Bailiff Chris Arrowsmith.

At his appeal, Mr Doherty argued he should never have been convicted. He said his chances of a fair trial has been zero as he had been denied an adjournment and would not have an expert witness to give back calculation evidence.

But the appeal court dismissed the appeal, ruling that it was without merit.

They said it was clear that the Deputy High Bailiff had considered the evidence in the case very carefully and had viewed the CCTV footage from the garage.

This showed the appellant’s behaviour at a critical time when he claimed not to have drunk any alcohol at all.

The appeal court heard that this was Mr Doherty sixth drink drive related conviction and his fifth in under 10 years.

Dismissing the appeal against the seven-year driving ban, Judge of appeal Jeremy Storey QC and Deemster Alastair Montgomerie said: ’We consider that a very lengthy period of disqualification was needed to protect the public from the appellant being allowed to drive. It is our view that the appellant can count himself most fortunate that the length of his disqualification was only seven years.’