A DRINK driver was discovered asleep in his car after it left the road and ended up in a field.

Martin Timbers, 56, of Castle Road, Newport, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court last Tuesday (December 3) where he pleaded guilty to drink driving.

He was more than three times the legal alcohol limit.

The court heard police were called to a single vehicle incident on Bullys Hill, Brading, at 9.45pm on November 19, where a trail of debris led to a car that had come off the road and crashed into a nearby field.

As police approached, they noticed the driver inside appeared to be sleeping.

Prosecutor Ann Smout said: "When police spoke to him, he told them he had slipped on some black ice and that everything was fine.

"He told them he had only had one drink that morning but at the roadside he blew an alcohol reading of 117mg. The legal limit is 35mg."

Police heard Timbers mutter 'why did I do it?' to himself as he was arrested.

Timbers' defence, Barry Arnett, said: "My client blames no one other than himself for this incident and he regrets that he has let a number of people down because of this.

"He's lived on the Island for five years now, where he runs his own business, and has been dealing with the stress and anxiety that brings.

"He is very, very upset about what he has done and he knows it was very wrong.

"You have heard he was asking himself why he would do this as he was arrested."

Magistrates gave Timbers an 18-month community order and banned him from driving for 26 months.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a surcharge of £90.