A NEWPORT man who thought he was OK to drive crashed his car on a bridge in Brading while over the legal alcohol limit.

Tom Johnson, of Barton Road, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

He admitted drink driving in Brading, on September 4.

Prosecutor, Liam Hunter, told the court police had received reports of a man leaving a public house at around 3pm, and there were concerns he was driving while in-drink.

He said police located the man's vehicle after it had crashed on a bridge in Brading.

Paramedics were already at the scene and Mr Hunter said there was extensive damage to the front of the vehicle, but no injuries.

He said airbags had been deployed, which suggested the car had been going at some speed, and described it as a serious crash.

The driver, Johnson, was spoken to at the roadside, and later at the police station, where he conceded he shouldn't have been driving.

Johnson, representing himself, said he had been struggling with depression during the past few months.

He said he had been at a friend's house and consumed two or three pints on the day, having been out the night before.

Mr Johnson said he thought he was OK to drive home, but was thankful no one else was involved in the collision.

He said a lot of things had built up and he clearly made a mistake.

Magistrates told Johnson someone could have been seriously injured, especially because of the time of day, and banned him from the road for 18 months.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £34 surcharge.