AN ISLE of Wight drink driver drove to his local pub and back when his house was just a ten-minute walk away.  

Glen Berger, of Westmill Road, Newport, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Tuesday, May 28.

The 36-year-old admitted drink driving in Newport, on May 11.

Prosecutor, Liz Miller, said Berger had been driving along Marlborough Road at around 9pm.

She said police were initially deployed to Westmill Road following a report that a Transit van had crashed into a fence, failed to stop, and driven off.

Ms Miller said officers spotted the damaged vehicle driving along Marlborough Road and when it was pulled over, its driver – Berger – smelt strongly of alcohol.

He registered a breath-alcohol reading of 116 when the legal limit is 35.

The court heard he was convicted for excess alcohol once before, back in 2007.

Jason Halsey, defending, said Berger had no excuse and no explanation.

He said he drove to his local pub, which was only a ten-minute walk from his house, after work, and for some inexplicable reason, decided to drive home.

The court heard Berger had “a torrid time” following the death of two siblings and was going through a marriage break-up.

Berger was made subject of a 12-month community order, to include 150 hours of unpaid work, and disqualified from driving for 28 months.

He was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £114 surcharge.