Drink-driver lies to police after car crash

Douglas man receives three-year driving ban

A Douglas man who lied to police after crashing his car has been banned from driving.

Andrew Burkitt of Cronk Drean appeared before magistrates at Douglas courthouse.

He pleaded guilty to one count of drink-driving on 27 October.

Prosecution advocate Roger Kane told the hearing motorists rang police in the early hours of the morning after spotting a crashed Ford Fiesta on Glencrutchery Road.

When officers arrived they found the 19-year-old nearby, and he told them he'd hit a tree after swerving to avoid an oncoming car on the wrong side of the road.

Accident investigators, however, noticed marks on the road contradicted his explanation, and at police headquarters he was found to be more than twice the drink-drive limit.

His advocate told the court his client was a responsible person who wanted to become a firefighter.

Magistrates fined him £1,000, as well as ordering him to pay £125 costs and banning him from getting behind the wheel again for three years.