A CHEF found slumped over his steering wheel in a forest car park while more than twice the drink-drive limit, was fined and banned from driving.

Calvin Graham Thistlewood admitted being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle, at the car park on Firestone Copse Road, Wootton, on December 10.

Police discovered Thistlewood slumped over the wheel of his Fiat Panda during the early hours of the morning.

He failed a roadside breath test and was arrested, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

At Newport Police Station, Thistlewood, of Church Road, Havenstreet, gave a breath alcohol reading of 88 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35.

Thistlewood, with no previous convictions, was a victim of exceptional circumstances leading up the incident, according to his solicitor, Oscar Vincent.

The 33-year-old, who was in a long-term relationship with a woman, was "unexpectedly told by her earlier that day he had to vacate the premises as the relationship was over," Mr Vincent explained.

Thistlewood then went to work and, following his shift, and with nowhere to stay, called his ex-partner asking her to allow him to stay the one night, but she refused, the bench was told.

"He wanted to drive somewhere isolated and parked on a grassed area, but it got stuck. He called for roadside assistance in vain and his phone battery ran out," Mr Vincent continued.

"It was cold, he had alcohol in the car for Christmas and drank some to help him sleep in the car.

"The next thing he knew, the police woke him up. The key was not in the ignition when they found him.

"He has not consumed alcohol since the incident."

Magistrates banned Thistlewood from driving for six months under the totting up procedure. They handed him ten penalty points, on top of the three his licence had already been endorsed with.

Thistlewood was also fined £438, with £85 costs and a £175 surcharge.