A SHANKLIN man caught driving a van late at night near Newchurch while almost twice the legal drink-drive limit, told a district judge he could potentially lose his job as a result of the offence.

Christopher Claude Martin, of St John's Road, admitted drink-driving at Knighton Shute on July 15.

The 30-year-old originally pleaded not guilty to the charge on July 29, but after he sought legal advice, he changed his plea.

Police pulled over Martin's white Ford Transit at around 11.50pm and he failed a roadside breath test and was arrested, said Liz Miller, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, on Tuesday.

At Newport Police Station, he gave a second breath test — the reading being 62 microgrammes of alcohol. The legal limit is 35.

Martin, with no previous convictions, told the court he had been stupid to plead not guilty and apologised for wasting the court's time.

Unrepresented, Martin passed a supportive letter from his employer, to district judge, Anthony Calloway, saying a driving disqualification would potentially result in him losing his job.

The judge told him he had no discretion in the matter and banned him for 18 months, with a £500 fine, £85 costs and an unspecified surcharge — but offered him the drink-drivers' rehabilitation course which, if successfully passed, would reduce his disqualification by one third.