A Brighstone man who crashed his car onto its roof after drinking several bottles of wine has been given a driving ban.

William Gardener, of Ashley Way, Brighstone, pleaded guilty to drink driving at the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, April 25.

Ann Smout, prosecuting, said Gardener’s white Kia was discovered on its roof, wedged between a hedge and a property on Galley Lane, on February 22, and it was clear he had collided with a tree.

Police found the 63-year-old in the driver’s seat, still upside down, with his seatbelt on.

The fire service cut him free of his vehicle, before he was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

A roadside breathalyser test came back at 76 when the legal limit is 35, and a further test at hospital found 124mg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, with the limit at 80.

Mrs Smout told the court that Gardener had drank ‘several bottles of wine’.

Michael McGoldrick, defending, said his client had no previous convictions or cautions and that the incident had lost him ‘his good name’.

Mr McGoldrick said Gardener had four tough years, after getting divorced from his partner of 29 years and his work coming to an end.

Gardener was disqualified from driving for 14 months, and must pay a £120 fine, a £48 surcharge and £85 costs.