Residents in Arbory parish can breathe a huge sigh of relief with the news the roadworks on the main thoroughfare are to finish on Friday.

The work, involving resurfacing the road, began in August and was meant to take six weeks.

However pedestrians and motorists have endured disruption and delays for months.

It prompted a ‘concerned resident’ to email Isle of Man Newspapers to ask whether the ‘extra works carried out were budgeted for and, if not, who is bearing the extra cost?’ They added: ‘Much of the highway from the pump house to its current position outside Vicarage Close has been tarmaced, only to be dug up again several times.

‘One Sunday, I think MGP practice week, three to four wagon loads of tarmac were laid during a road closure only to be scrubbed up again during the next week. The newly laid pavement has also been recently re-dug and relayed.

‘The piece of road the contractors are currently working on has been dug up at least twice in the last week or so.’

They asked if the whole of the pavement would be refurbished or ‘are they going to leave the 200-yard or so section from the Arbory School car park to the pump house? This section is not in good repair.’

The Department of Infrastructure explained the job was more complicated than was originally thought. ‘During the scheme it became apparent that sections of the road required full reconstruction rather than just resurfacing.

‘In addition, the opportunity has been taken to widen a section of footpath in Ballabeg leading to Arbory Primary School, which involved replacing and repositioning part of the water main.

‘The scheme will improve the lifespan and ride quality of the road, enhance footpaths, kerbing and drainage, and limit traffic speeds to support the safety of all road users, especially children attending the school.’

The DoI is funding the project while Manx Utilities is paying for the installation of the new water main.

Regarding redoing sections, the department said: ‘No new asphalt has been dug up on any part of the road, with the exception of two gullies approximately one metre square each. Sections of footpath have been taken up and re-laid at the subcontractor’s expense.

‘Some sections of road have been planed and overlaid. Other sections that did not have sufficient depth of asphalt on the original carriageway have been excavated and fully reconstructed.

‘The section of pavement from Arbory School car park to the pump house is not part of this scheme.’

Ramsey commissioners have received a request from a Jurby-based company to carry out an inspection and survey of the Mooragh Park island, with a view to opening a seafarers’ training centre.

To fulfil its aims, the company needs to secure a location where it can install and use a permanent mounted lifeboat davit launch.

After liaising with director of ports Ann Reynolds, it was suggested that the boating lake may be the only location on the island that is suitable.

Members were divided on the proposal.

In the end, chairman Andrew Cowie used his casting vote in support of allowing the company to carry out a feasibility study.

Lara Barnes is pictured presenting a cheque for £750 to the chairman of Victim Support, David Craine, at the Maughold Social Club’s Hop Tu Naa celebration.

Lara organised a car boot sale on behalf of the Maughold Social Club in August.

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The government wants to find out about the health of the Manx population.

Seven thousand homes will receive a letter next week from the Department of Health and Social Care’s public health directorate, asking for one resident to fill in a 20- to 30-minute survey online.

It will look at wellbeing, diet, physical activity and ‘lifestyle choices’.

Addresses have been chosen at random.

Minister for Health and Social Care Kate Beecroft MHK said: ‘Public health aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the population; understand what makes us healthy or sick; and reduce health inequalities. The results of this survey will provide valuable information to help towards these goals.

‘I would encourage all households that receive a letter to take part: the more responses we receive the richer the pool of data to help shape health and social care services to meet our community’s needs in the future.’

All answers disclosed in the survey will be completely anonymous and any information treated in the strictest confidence, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2002. Whilst the first three digits of respondents’ postcodes will be requested, this will not identify residences and no attempt will be made to link the information back to specific households.

The government says taking part in the survey is voluntary and respondents can choose which questions they feel comfortable answering.

Those who receive a letter but have limited or no internet access can collect a paper copy of the survey from one of the following locations:

Welcome Centre, Sea Terminal, Douglas; Henry Bloom Noble Library, Douglas; Leonard Cheshire Disability, Onchan; Ramsey Town Library; Port Erin Library; Ward Library, Peel.

In addition, Leonard Cheshire Disability, based above Onchan Library, will provide access to its computer suite and help in completing the survey if needed.

Further information is available online here or from the public health directorate by telephoning 642639 or emailing publichealth.dhsc@gov.im.

The survey will close on midnight of Sunday, December 11.

Ramsey commissioners will not oppose a planning application by Ramsey Golf Links Ltd for three luxury detached dwellings on land to the northern section of the club’s car park.

The site is not currently zoned as open space or woodland, not for development.

The application points out that the development would not be visually intrusive and that the highway access requirements had been met.

Commissioner and club member Eric Corkish spoke in favour of the application, saying the sole reason the club wished to sell off the land was to raise the money to pay off a debt. It was a spare piece of wasteland alongside the Leighany stream, not overlooking any other properties. It was not part of the golf course, and never would be.

‘They are trying to sell it to make money, which they need to keep the golf club going. If Ramsey loses the golf course, it will never get it back’, he said.

Market Place, Ramsey, will have a lot to offer motor enthusiasts on Sunday (November 27), when there will be a classic motor show from 11am to 4pm.

Running alongside the motor display there will be a Christmas market in St Paul’s Square and a car boot sale in the church hall.

University College Isle of Man is paying ICT Limited £61,166 a year in rent and an annual service charge of £73,260 for the use of the Nunnery.

The figure was given at last week’s Tynwald sitting by Education and Children Minister Graham Cregeen in response to a question by Onchan MHK Julie Edge (LibVan).

Mr Cregeen said: ‘The advice of the Strategic Asset Management Unit was sought and it was felt that these rental terms represented value for money.

‘Entering into the agreement has provided greater capacity at the Homefield Road site and benefited existing students by enabling them to continue their studies uninterrupted.

‘Had another site been selected, site authorisation would have been needed and obtained from the University.’

Undergraduate courses being offered are in computer science, business studies, marketing, events management, and accounting and finance.

There are 120 full-time students, 66 part-time students and 30 who are on short courses.

The rent is for 20 rooms and shared spaces on the Nunnery site, both classrooms and staff offices.

The service charge covers utilities, cleaning, security, maintenance, wifi access and insurance.

The provision of the Nunnery will be reviewed by the University of Chester at the end of the academic year.

ICT bought the Nunnery in January 2015 and has ambitions to expand the site into a technology park where IT businesses can locate, enabling students based there to gain valuable real world experience and give IT companies access to an enviable talent pool.

Work on the site so far has included renovating and extended the Gate Lodge and renovating the main house.

Many sections of the roof have been replaced, the toilets have been modernised and rooms have been redecorated.

ICT director Werner Alberts said their next focus is a car and coach parking area with 95 spaces. A planning application for that work has been approved.

An application to redevelop the former swimming pool site for a multi-purpose building (16/00865/B) has also been approved. Mr Alberts said construction was likely to start in the second half of 2017.

Investors have been tipped to buy Manx Telecom shares for a ‘Man-sized dividend supported by robust cashflow’ despite the company announcing up to 40 jobs could be lost through voluntary redundancy.

The upbeat advice has come from the respected Questor column, which gives share tips, advice and recommendations, in the Daily Telegraph.

Manx Telecom is a member of the Alternative Investment Market [AIM], a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange.

Last month the company announced the launch of a ‘transformation programme’ scheduled to last 18 to 24 months.

Up to 40 people will be allowed to take voluntary redundancy.

But as managing director Gary Lamb told Business News, the telecommunications company is still recruiting. He said: ‘This is not about freezing recruitment, it’s about bringing in new skills and recruiting and allowing up to 40 to take voluntary redundancy.

‘That will then help us to reshape the business.’

Questor last week refers to the US presidential election result before mentioning Manx Telecom.

It says: ‘Even the election of Donald Trump is not denting the market’s faith that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates when it meets on December 14 – and higher rates tend to be bad news for so-called ‘‘bond proxies’’ and yield plays.

‘Yet the American central bank is moving at such a glacial pace – a 0.25pc increase in 2015 and perhaps one more this year – that risk-tolerant investors are still going to be looking for reliable income from sources other than cash for some time. Manx Telecom may be able to help.

‘As its name suggests, the firm is the leading provider of fixed-line, broadband and mobile communications services on the Isle of Man.

‘This might not sound exciting but that is the point, even allowing for the potential offered by rising demand for superfast broadband and 4G mobile data services. Further revenue opportunities could come from the Global Solutions arm, which runs international roaming agreements and offers services to overseas partners.

‘The core business is highly cash generative and seems capable of supporting the dividend policy pursued by the management.’

Verdict: ‘Questor says: Buy.’

New Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan says he wants to make ‘abundantly’ clear in next year’s Budget the scale of the government’s debts – and what is being done to tackle them.

Latest government audited accounts show a revenue deficit of £187m, which is nearly double last year’s deficit of £95m.

But Chief Minister Howard Quayle said £120m of that was a hypothetical loss resulting from the adoption of new accountancy requirements.

He explained the figure shows what the unrealised loss would have been if government’s investments had all been sold at the end of the year.

Mr Quayle insisted: ‘This is as a result of the new way that accounts have to be prepared under international accountancy standards and not a measure of government spending more than it earned.’

Mr Cannan said the core structural deficit remains at £75m.

As part of the Budget process many areas of government spending will be reviewed including public sector pensions, he said.

He said: ‘The £187m figure incorporates an adjustment for the market value of our invested stocks and shares at the date of the accounts, notional pension interest, forward gas purchases and other items amalgamated alongside any deficit. This complies with new international accounting standards.

‘However, the core structural deficit remains at £75m and the government is supporting this by using both interest and capital from the reserves.

‘I am currently working with Treasury officers and members on the 2017 Budget.

‘As part of that budget I will be seeking to make abundantly clear what the operating deficit is, how it is being supported and what measures are needed to achieve success in the next five years.’

He added: ‘In developing the budget we will be seeking to support enterprise and opportunity, help create an inclusive and caring society whilst maintaining financial responsibility.

‘There are, of course, many areas of government spending that require further analysis in the coming weeks as we prepare to set out our budget. We are working hard to undertake this analysis and review work and naturally this will include reviewing our spending commitments in respect of public sector pensions.’

Mr Cannan added: ‘I intend to deliver a budget of clarity and confidence.

‘I am encouraged by early economic growth indicators and it will be essential to continue to support jobs and investment.

‘I am also conscious there are many factors prohibiting the benefits of economic growth from reaching across society and I’m looking closely at this issue.’

The work permit system will not be removed under my watch.

That’s the pledge from Chief Minister Howard Quayle as he responded to union concerns about plans to expand the number of permit exemptions.

In a ‘state of the nation’ speech to Tynwald last week Mr Quayle announced that action was being taken on work permits in response to a skills shortage which he said was hindering business investment and growth.

Treasury member Ralph Peake has gone one step further – by calling for the work permits rules to be lifted altogether for a year.

But TUC president Eric Holmes said this would create a ‘free for all race to the bottom’ and unions would campaign against any ‘attempted blanket removal of Manx workers’ protection’.

Speaking to the Examiner, the Chief Minister said the number of jobs available exceeded the number of people available to fill those jobs by a ratio of two to one.

He said exemptions had been introduced for nurses, doctors, ICT workers and secondary school teachers and the Department of Economic Development is looking at other areas where there are skills shortages such as financial and professional services.

But he stressed: ‘The work permit system will not be removed under my watch.

‘We are listening to the concerns of industry and where there is clear evidence that we don’t have the skills and the people to fill those jobs then we will expand the range of exemptions.

‘The work permit system is not going to disappear. There are obviously areas where we have shortages and we are listening to all sectors – including the unions.’

And he said that exemptions could be removed again, if they were no longer needed.

‘That’s the whole point of keeping the work permit system,’ he explained. ‘It would be irresponsible not to do anything if businesses are telling us there’s a skills shortage. But an exemption can be removed if there is evidence that there is no longer the need for it.

‘I can assure the unions that we are not going to do away with the work permit system.’

Mr Peake suggested in the House of Keys this month that ‘now might be the time to consider removing the work permit for a year to give business the full opportunity to remove that barrier and offer good employment opportunities’ for people moving here.

Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly urged caution, insisting the current legislation gave the flexibility to carve out further exemptions for particular sectors but to go much further, residency control would need to be considered in the light of Brexit and the immigration debate in the UK.

Since Manx Telecom was launched in 1986 there have only been three chairmen of the company.

A rare meeting of this trio occurred recently at a dinner in honour of former chairman and non-executive director, Sir Miles Walker CBE.

Sir Miles, who was the Isle of Man’s first Chief Minister, stepped down from the Manx Telecom board in June this year after 13 years with the company.

He was appointed in 2003 as a non-executive director and served as chairman from June 2010 until the company became an AIM-listed PLC in February 2014. The dinner celebrated his years of service during a period of significant development for the company.

Among the guests who were there to pay tribute to Sir Miles were Walter Gilbey, who was Manx Telecom’s first chairman from 1986 to June 2010, and current non-executive chairman, Kevin Walsh.

The dinner was held at The Abbey Restaurant.

A former government Minister says he is surprised that figures for payments by government to Manx educational charity Mooinjer Veggey have been published without explanation.

The latest audited government accounts list transactions which have taken place between government and organisations in which members of Tynwald have declared an interest.

They show that as chairman of Mooinjer Veggey, former Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne, who lost his Rushen seat in the general election, billed government for £451,142 for services supplied in the financial year ending March 31 this year.

The figures were reported on page 3 of last week’s Examiner and here on iomtoday.

Mr Gawne said the charity didn’t recognise the figures given but said that it had received £314,234 in fees paid by the Department of Education and Children for running the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh Manx language school in St John’s up to the end of August this year.

In addition it received about £23,262 for pre-school vouchers redeemed by parents attending Mooinjer Veggey’s two pre-schools in Braddan and Ballasalla, making a total paid by the department £337,496.

He insisted: ‘As a director of this charity I receive nothing and I never have done. I’ve never claimed anything.’

Mr Gawne said he had absolutely no problem with the figures being published.

But he added: ‘I’m a little surprised that the figures were released in this way. I wasn’t aware they were published at all and I’m a bit surprised there is no attempt at commentary. As an organisation we don’t recognise the figures – which demonstrates a commentary would have been helpful.’

He pointed out that other charities and companies that run pre-schools who haven’t had their figures published could potentially get a competitive advantage.

Mr Gawne said the discrepancy in the figures may partly be explained by the government’s accounts being based on the financial year while the charity’s accounts are based on the school year.

Mooinjer Veggey’s accounts show that total income in the year to the end of August 2016 was £381,673 including DEC fees paid, fees from parents, other grants and fundraising. Staff costs totalled £346,932 and the charity made a small loss of £658.

The Bunscoill was established in the year 2000 and currently has 67 pupils, from reception age to 11 years old.

There are four full-time teachers.

Mr Gawne said that when government finances are tight, and during an election campaign, detractors may criticise the school as a luxury that we can no longer afford.

But he said in terms of academic performance, its finances and the media coverage it brings for the island, the Bunscoill offers real value for money.

He said: ‘It’s a nice to have but it’s a nice to have that is among the most, if not the most, cost effective small school in the Isle of Man.’

‘It’s not just about the Manx language,’ he added, explaining that from the outset it has had lots of media coverage from Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Norway and Denmark.

‘There have been visits by Chinese and Indian politicians and TV presenters from BBC’s Countryfile. This month, the pupils appeared on Channel 4 to announce The Simpsons and other programmes in Manx.

Every year many of the year 6 students (aged 10 and 11) achieve higher than the island’s average standard in English, science and maths. Many have gone on to study Manx at GCSE and A level. Studies have shown learning a second language has benefits for many other subjects as well as in learning other languages, Mr Gawne said.

A formal notice is to be served on the owner of the former mart site in Bowring Road Ramsey.

The matter was discussed at the latest monthly meeting of the town’s commissioners.

The move follows an inspection by chief technical officer Steve Harrison and environmental health officer Glenn Blacker, who found the buildings to be in a ‘ruinous, dilapidated and neglected’ condition and in breach of the Building Control Act 1991.

They recommended that a notice be issued requiring the owner to carry out remedial works or take steps towards demolition.

Mr Harrison said the owner has been contacted previously, but the premises had continued to deteriorate.

Several planning applications to develop the site have been turned down by the government’s planning committee.

Just Care Products is now able to offer customers the opportunity to lease mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs through the UK’s Motability scheme.

It’s understood to be the first time this has been made available to customers on the Isle of Man.

The Motability scheme has been operating in the UK for 38 years and enables those receiving Disability Living Allowance to use part of the allowance to lease a scooter or powered wheelchair.

Tracey Hellowell, managing director of Just Care Products approached the UK operators of the scheme earlier in the year and over several months negotiated to bring the scheme to the island.

Inspectors from the UK visited Just Care Products to meet the team and assess the business, and it has now been approved to offer the Motability scheme locally.

Inclusion in the scheme means that Just Care Products gains exclusivity with main scooter and powered wheelchair suppliers, such as TGA, Electric Mobility (Rascal), Sunrise Medical and Monarch Mobility, giving customers a range of over 150 products to choose from.

Mrs Hellowell said: ‘A big part of the appeal of the scheme for customers is that they get a reliable new scooter or powered wheelchair complete with insurance, breakdown assistance and servicing taken care of.

‘The worry-free nature of the package and the wide choice and the help and advice we can give to ensure customers find the right product for their needs, makes being a Motability specialist very worthwhile. We are more than delighted to have been appointed.’

Just Care Products Limited is a family business supporting independent living. It has been trading since August 2011. The recently expanded showroom at Spring Valley Trading Estate has free parking and easy access.

A roofer has been convicted of causing a fire which devastated a large part of the Mount Murray Hotel three years ago.

Roy Cross, 64, of Santon, was found guilty this afternoon of three charges of breaching health and safety legislation in connection with the November 2013 blaze.

The jury of six men and one woman took two hours to deliver their guilty verdicts of failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees, of failing to ensure the safety of all those in the hotel was not exposed to risk, and a third count of failing to notify the hotel of the type of work he was carrying out.

Each offence carries a maximum sentence of two years in jail.

Deemster Main-Thompson warned Cross he could face a custodial sentence.

He told the Court of General Gaol Delivery: ‘Having regard to the severity of the breaches and the potentially serious consequences of those breaches and having regard to the fact that the defendant fought the matter to the end, notwithstanding the strength of the evidence against him, I am obviously having to be considering the possibility of a custodial sentence.’

Cross was bailed pending his sentencing in about six weeks’ time.

He told reporters outside the court that he was too shocked to make a comment.

Cross, trading as Roofcraft, had been engaged by the Mount Murray Hotel to replace leadwork on the accommodation block with fibreglass. But following heavy overnight rain, the spoilt fibreglass was scraped off with a shovel and the defendant then used a blowtorch borrowed from the Mount Murray’s workshops to dry the plywood underneath - a decision which the Crown described as ‘catastrophic’.

The Deemster said there was ‘no justification whatsoever’ for the rumours that had persisted for some time that the tiles on the roof of the hotel were in any way responsible for the fire.

In an opening statement, defence counsel Ian Kermode had told the jury that the man-made roof tiles were flammable and readily combustible. But the jury heard no evidence that this was the case. Indeed, tests by a health and safety inspector showed that they would not catch fire even after applying a flame from a blowlamp for 10 minutes.

The defence claimed that Cross was not an employer and so he could not be convicted of any of the three offences. But in his summing up , the Deemster said there did not need to be written terms of contract.

An Onchan man has been put on probation for 12 months and ordered to perform 60 hours community service after stealing his flatmate’s DVDs.

James William Craig, of Maple Avenue, pleaded guilty to theft of the DVDs and was ordered to pay £200 compensation to the former friend.

The 22-year-old was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.

The court heard how Craig stole 53 DVDs, one X-box game and one PlayStation game.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how, on August 29, Craig was sharing a flat with a friend, Dale Vincent.

Mr Vincent decided to move some boxes of his DVDS from his bedroom to a lounge area.

He had put them in his bedroom, with the help of Craig, at the end of July while they were doing some decorating.

When Mr Vincent put them back in the lounge and started putting them on shelves he noticed that one box was missing.

He said that he suspected that Craig had taken them but put out a group message on social media giving him the opportunity to own up as he said he did not want to point the finger at him.

Craig told him that he was not responsible but offered to help if there was any way he could.

He even offered to replace some of the DVDs, which Mr Vincent thought was suspicious as he had denied taking them.

On August 30, Mr Vincent went to CeX in Strand Street, Douglas, a shop that buys second-hand goods, and found evidence to suggest Craig had sold some of the DVDs to the shop. Receipts were produced for some of the DVDs.

Mr Vincent estimated that the total value of the DVDs and games missing, if they had been new, would be £470.

Defending Craig in court, his advocate Peter Russell handed in references on behalf of his client, and said: ‘This can be summed up as a mean offence.

‘Mr Craig recognises it was mean and is genuinely remorseful for that. The probation report is very helpful.

‘There is personal and sensitive information I won’t refer to in open court. In summary we are dealing with a young man who had every reason to be optimistic about his future.

‘He was in employment but unfortunately the working environment was not good for him and he fell into trouble. He was too proud to ask for help.

‘He took the DVDs and sold them to feed himself. Now he has lost a good friend. It’s not a friendship that will ever be rebuilt.

‘The references are excellent and show the other side of this young man and his former good character.’

Chair of the magistrates David Craine said: ‘We like to think this was a single lapse and you have learnt from it.’

Braddan Commissioners’ vice chairman, John Quaye, presented representatives from the TT Riders Association and the ACU Benevolent Fund with cheques for £270.37.

The money was raised from racing fans during this year’s TT and Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling at the commissioners’ Memorial Hall in Union Mills.

The garden is popular with spectators and the commissioners open the hall for the use of marshals and fans free of charge.

John Quaye said: ‘Braddan Commissioners have organised charity collections at the Memorial Hall for several years and we’re grateful to the fans who donated so generously to these worthwhile causes.’.

Photo shows (L-R) Colin Whiteway, clerk to Braddan Commissioners, Frances Thorp of the TT Riders’ Association, Wyn Evans of the ACU Benevolent Fund and Braddan Commissioners’ vice chairman, John Quaye.

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Plans are afoot to improve the appearance of a private car parking area in Douglas.

Douglas council’s environmental services committee wants the covered car parking at the side of Finch Road to be tidied up.

The discussion followed a report to the committee by the council’s building control manager. Councillors were told the owners of the 16 car parking spaces were all amenable and did not object to work being done. But they were also told there were logistical difficulties in co-ordinating the owners to obtain quotations for repainting and having the work carried out.

Committee members also discussed the possibility of serving an official notice for the work to be done under the Building Control Act, 1991, including repainting masonry walls and steel structures.

Councillors heard the aim of any such notice would be to encourage everyone to work together to get the job done. They were told the area was not a conservation area.

Enquiries are also to be made to see if the Pitcairn Hotel on Church Road Marina in Douglas is in a conservation area. The council is currently considering getting a court order to enter the hotel to inspect the structure.

A 30-year-old man from Ramsey had to be subdued with Pava spray during a drunken domestic row in which he tore off his shirt.

Mark Peter Richards, of Waverley Terrace, was fined £275 for being drunk and disorderly by a magistrates’ court.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how, on October 30 at 12.25am, police were called to Queen’s Pier Road in Ramsey after a report of a domestic argument.

When officers arrived Richards was said to be standing in the road remonstrating with a woman, later identified as his wife.

During the row, Richards threw his mobile phone on the ground smashing it and was swearing.

He then turned his attention to the police and also swore at them.

The court heard that Richards then took off this t-shirt and began puffing out his chest and pushing his shoulders back in an aggressive manner.

Police tried to calm him down but to no avail.

Richards told them: ‘Go for your baton. Take one step closer and you’re having it.’

Officers then used Pava spray to subdue him and he was arrested and taken to police headquarters.

Once they got close enough police said that Richards was clearly drunk, smelling of alcohol, slurring his words and unsteady on his feet.

Defending Richards in court, his advocate Peter Russell said: ‘This was an unfortunate incident. One that is a reflection of where his life was at and still is. The row was with his estranged wife of 12 years. Unfortunately the marriage has broken down and Mr Richards has been struggling to cope with it.

‘They had been out together for a drink. He drank too much and can’t really explain even what the argument was about. His recollection is not good.

‘My client is genuinely remorseful and apologised to police. He has been seeing the Mental Health team and has an appointment with Occupational Therapy to work on some issues, anger and anxiety.

‘I can report he is not drinking anymore. He realises he will end up in a lot more trouble if he continues.’

Mr Russell went on to say that Richards was currently signed off work and was receiving incapacity benefit, struggling financially.

He said that his client was living on £89 a week and could realistically afford to pay £10 per week towards any financial penalty imposed on him.

‘He is not heavily convicted and has not been in trouble for some time. We would ask for credit for his early guilty plea,’ said the advocate.

‘Clearly he was not co-operating at the time so we cannot ask for credit for that.

‘However, the following day he was able to apologise and recognise his behaviour was wrong.

Chair of the magistrates David Craine said while passing sentence: ‘We have listened to the circumstances and are pleased to hear that you are trying not to drink.

‘This was a clear case of alcohol in, sense out. This will result in a fine but we will accept your offer of £10 per week. We appreciate it may be difficult for you.’

Magistrates ordered that Richards should start paying the fine from Friday, November 25 and there are 30 days in default of payment.

A drink-driver was so intoxicated she managed to drive only a few yards before smashing into three parked vehicles, a court was told.

By her own admission, Lauren Anne Cawte had drunk six or seven glasses of wine on a night out before jumping into her car outside her home on Murray’s Road, Douglas.

But seconds later, her journey ended as she smashed into three cars on nearby Hilary Road.

For the prosecution, Barry Swain said the 22-year-old hairdresser had a row with her boy friend. When he left to return home to Ramsey at around 3am, she set off in her car in pursuit, forgetting how much she had had to drink.

Mr Swain told the court the first police knew of the incident was when someone reported a Citroen C3 crashed and abandoned on Hilary Road. The defendant was tracked down to a nearby house and she confirmed she had been drinking into the early hours of the morning, and had then driven the car. A breath test produced a reading of 80, significantly above the drink drive limit of 35.

Mr Swain said: ‘In a rage she got in to her car to follow her boyfriend to Ramsey. She did not think about her suitability to drive or remember colliding with anything. It was all a blur.’

A pre-sentence report on the defendant suggested a reparation order, requiring her to speak to school pupils about the folly of drink-driving.

Defending her, Roger Kane told the court: ‘I think it’s a terrific idea. She is an honest, hard working 22-year-old who has never been in trouble with the police before. From the moment she offended, she held her hands up and admitted it.

‘She could not be more remorseful and that shows in her willingness to undertake the reparation order.’

Sentencing her, magistrates’ chairman John Hellowell said it was a very serious offence which would normally attract a prison sentence.

She received a 24-hour reparation order and a three-year driving ban. She must pass an extended test, complete a drivers’ alcohol rehabilitation course and pay £125 costs.