A 31-year-old man has been fined £600 after admitting to being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through alcohol.
Mattia Lejersten, of King Edward Road, pleaded guilty to the offence and also had his driving licence endorsed with 10 penalty points.
He was also ordered to pay £225.93 court costs.
The court heard how, on June 11 at 2.30am, police noticed a Mini Cooper stationary in Strathallan Crescent in Douglas.
The car had its brake lights going on and off and headlights on.
Lejersten was alone in the car with the keys in the ignition and police said he smelt of alcohol and had glazed eyes.
He was asked if he had been drinking and replied: ‘Yes, some pints, but ages ago.’
He took a roadside breathalyser test, failed and was subsequently arrested.
Lejersten made no reply after caution.
At police headquarters he took a further breathalyser test which produced a result of 43 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres – the legal limit is 35.
He was also offered the option of taking a blood test and did so.
This produced a reading of 81 - the legal limit is 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.
Defence advocate Pamela Pringle handed in letters of reference for Lejersten and stated that her client had no previous convictions and had been very co-operative with the police.
Ms Pringle said: ‘On the night, he had gone to the Queen’s Hotel with his partner for dinner, then got a taxi into town, leaving the car.
‘On the way back they had an argument and his girlfriend left him. He got into the car and was waiting for her to come back so she could drive, as she had had less to drink. He had no intent to drive and was genuinely waiting for her to drive or for them to walk home.
‘He is very sorry, upset and embarrassed. He wants the court to know he has well and truly learned his lesson.
‘He was only one milligram over the legal limit. Bearing in the mind the reading, I would submit that disqualification would be disproportionate.
‘There is no prospect of him committing the offence again. He is so upset he’s considering selling his car.’
Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said: ‘I will sentence you on the reading of one milligram over the prescribed limit. There is no evidence you drove or had the intention to. Nonetheless sitting in the vehicle there is a real risk you might have driven.’
Mrs Hughes added that Lejersten had lost his good character and clean driving licence as a result of the offence.
Two letters of references were handed in by Lejersten’s advocate on his behalf, as well as a letter of apology from Lejersten himself.
The Deputy High Bailiff went on to say: ‘One of your letters of reference says this was a “momentary misjudgement” and I will deal with it as that.
‘Bearing in mind you were just one milligram over the limit, were not driving and have no previous convictions, I do consider points is the most appropriate course of action rather than disqualification.’