An Isle of Wight restaurant owner has been banned from driving after his “act of kindness” got him tangled up with police.

Ruslan Ciobanu, of Merstone Lane, Arreton, attended the IW Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, October 15, and pleaded guilty to drink driving.

Liz Miller, prosecuting, said the police saw the 44-year-old “stopped randomly” in his BMW on St James’ Street in Newport just after midnight on September 29.

Ms Miller told the court that officers pulled him over and noted a strong smell of alcohol.

Ciobanu informed police he had a few drinks that evening, and a roadside alcohol test confirmed that Ciobanu had 53mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is 35.

Ms Miller said Ciobanu has no previous convictions.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said his client works full-time running his own restaurant in Newport and works in the kitchen as a chef.

Mr Vincent told the court it had been a very busy evening and, at the end of the night, he offered his staff a drink before they went home.

He had one drink before a staff member realised they were soon going to miss the last bus, and Ciobanu offered to drive them to the bus station – a five-minute journey – to ensure they got home, Mr Vincent told magistrates.

Mr Vincent added: “He regrets what can only have been described as an act of kindness.”

Magistrates handed Ciobanu a 12-month driving disqualification and ordered him to pay a £172 fine, £85 in costs and a £69 surcharge.