Banned motorist caught drink-driving in uninsured car

A banned driver was caught by police drink-driving in an uninsured car which had only three tyres, a court’s heard.

John Charles Walster of Endfield Avenue in Port St Mary appeared before Deputy High Bailiff Christopher Arrowsmith at Douglas Courthouse.

He admitted possessing cocaine, driving whilst disqualified, having no insurance and drink-driving on Richmond Hill on December 1.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon told the hearing police stopped Walster after seeing his Ford Fiesta’s tyreless wheel rim grinding sparks from the road surface at 1.20am.

The court heard Walster was banned in March 2010 and had never retaken his driving test - after his arrest he was found to be almost three times the drink-drive limit.

A search at police headquarters found he was carrying a wrap of cocaine worth £10.

Mr Arrowsmith jailed him for a total of 10 weeks and imposed a six-year driving ban, after which Walster will have to pass an extended driving test to get his licence back.