45-year-old man tells police he knew he would fail roadside breath test

A Douglas man has been banned from the roads for six months after crashing his car while drunk and leaving the scene.

Christopher Reilly, of Cronk Y Berry Avenue, drove the wrong way down a one-way street after drinking seven pints of beer.

The 45-year-old man pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to stop after a road accident during an appearance at Douglas Courthouse.

Police were called on June 21 after Reilly’s BMW was seen hitting another car and a motorcycle on Barrule Road at around 11:30 p.m.; it caused significant damage to all three vehicles.

The next day, Reilly went to police headquarters to tell officers that he did not stop at that time because he knew he would have failed a roadside breath test.

During sentencing, his lawyer told the court it was a “serious error of judgment”, adding it was “totally out of character” for his client.

Fining Reilly £1,600 and ordering him to pay £50 prosecution costs, Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood told him: “The circumstances are serious.

“You knew if you were arrested you would be over the limit.”