Fine for driver who fell asleep in car after 'impromptu night out'

Police found 29-year-old Steven Underwood in his BMW in Chester Street car park in Douglas at 1.35am on July 29th. 

 

The engine was running and he was 'heavily intoxicated' - when officers woke him his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. 

 

He was arrested and taken to Police Headquarters where a reading showed he was more than twice the drink drive limit. 

 

At Douglas Courthouse this week Underwood pleaded guilty to a charge of being drunk in charge of a vehicle. 

 

His advocate said he was "ashamed to be before the court" and asked for the incident to be dealt with as a 'blip' saying there was no real explanation for why he'd returned to his vehicle. 

 

Sentencing him Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said he'd lost his "good character" saying that would have "repercussions in the future". 

 

Telling him she would treat it as a "one off incident" she also imposed 10 penalty points on his driving licence and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £280.