Drink driver told he's made a 'terrible error of judgement'

20-year-old banned for two years

A Douglas man who decided to drive a friend home after a night out has been banned from the road for two years.

Leigh Simon Kneen, of Hilltop View, was 1.5 times over the legal limit when he was arrested by police on 23 July.

The 20-year-old had been seen by officers driving his VW Golf on Shore Road in Gansey at 4.44am – when they arrived at his home at 6am he was in bed but his car’s engine was still warm.

Kneen told officers he’d consumed three beers and five vodkas before he was given a lift home; once there he’d decided to drive back into town to pick up a friend and then take them to Port St Mary.

At Douglas Courthouse he admitted drink driving – the prosecutor told the court it was a case of ‘someone trying to do a friend a favour who has got themselves in hot water’.

Kneen’s advocate said his client had ‘learnt his lesson’ adding: “This is a very sobering lesson. It is a terrible error of judgement.”

Fining Kneen £1350, and ordering him to pay prosecution costs of £125, Magistrates told him: “Think yourself very lucky you weren’t involved in an accident.

“It’s a hard lesson to learn. Never make a stupid mistake like this again.”

Kneen will remain disqualified at the end of his ban until he’s taken and passed an extended driving test.