A 43-year old man who admitted several driving offences including drink driving has been given a four month prison sentence suspended for two years by the High Bailiff.

Keith Hammie Sharp of Westmoreland Road, Douglas, also admitted taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, driving without insurance and driving whilst unsupervised.

The defendant took a friend's car from Ballasalla at 9.30 pm on November 11th and crashed it into railings and porch at the former Lancashire Hotel.

Sharp was arrested at the scene where a his blood alcohol reading was 229 milligrammes - the legal limit is 80mg.

His advocate said the defendant had no wish to play on the issues that he and his family had suffered over the last two years and he urged the court to impose a suspended sentence or a community based sentence.

Mr Moyle said he was taking the exceptional steps of not imposing immediate custody simply because of the family.

Sharp was also fined ?1000 and banned from driving for four years.