A WEST Wight man who works in the licensing trade was almost twice the drink-drive limit when police found him at the wheel of his car waiting for a friend, an Island court was told.

Marcus Burgin admitted being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle at Seaclose Park, Fairlee Road, Newport, on October 16.

Police on patrol at Seaclose Park found Burgin in the driver's seat of his car, with his keys in the ignition and the engine running outside the public conveniences, said Liz Miller, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (2).

Burgin, with no previous convictions, was breath-tested. He blew a reading of 66 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35.

The 22-year-old, of Camp Road, Freshwater, works at a licensed premises in Yarmouth.

For Burgin, Wendy Cook said: "He had gone out with friends, not using his car, to a public house after work that afternoon for some drinks, not intending to drive that evening.

"He was walking home when a friend texted him to say he was stranded in Newport and needed to get to Freshwater.

"He did, of course, take the wrong decision to drive. At the time, he had not felt the effects of the drink, but he blew a considerable level in breath.

"What he did was totally out of character. He has, voluntarily — partly being very upset with himself — stopped driving altogether and is now using the bus anticipating a ban.

"He did not exhibit bad driving behaviour — but he did make a silly error of judgement, probably to impress a friend and work colleague

"It has, of course, landed him in a great deal of trouble, for which he is heartily sorry. He has learnt a valuable lesson."

Burgin was handed a three-month driving ban and fined £192, with an order to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.