AN ELDERLY man ruined many decades of having a clean driving licence by being caught while over the drink drive limit.

Charles McKie, 80, of Latimer Road, St Helens, crashed his car on Carpenters Road, Brading, on June 10.

Liz Miller, prosecuting at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court today (Friday), said McKie's car crashed off the road into a hedge.

He was extracted from the vehicle and treated at the scene, and later at St Mary's Hospital, for a possible head injury.

He was breathalysed at the scene and blew 85 when the legal limit is 35.

Later, in a blood test, he was found to have 172 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, when the legal limit is 80.

Being more than double the drink drive limit, he was arrested. He admitted to the drink driving charge in court.

Henry Farley, representing McKie, described it as a 'sad case'.

He said McKie's partner had dementia and can be difficult in the car.

"She started waving her arms about and grabbed the wheel. That's what caused the car to leave the road," Mr Farley said.

Mr McKie had been driving since he was 16 or 17, back in the 1950s.

Mr Farley told the bench: "I invite credit for the guilty plea, full co-operation and many decades of blameless motoring."

Magistrates disqualified McKie from driving for 17 months.

He must pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £34 surcharge.