Man who drank on ferry before driving jailed

Arya Askari was jailed for 15 months and banned from driving for five years

A man who drank alcohol on an overnight ferry to the Isle of Man before driving off the vessel has been jailed for 15 months.

Arya Askari, 27, was traveling to the island on the Manxman on 11 February when he was reported to the port authorities for being intoxicated.

Douglas Courthouse heard he failed a roadside breath test after being stopped by port officers after he drove his Alfa Romeo off the vessel in Douglas at about 05:40 GMT.

Jailing him for driving while under the influence of alcohol and disqualified, Deemster Graeme Cook said he had an "appalling" driving record.

The court heard the roadside breath test had recorded a result of 45 micrograms of alcohol per 100 micrograms, the legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Police were called by port officers after Askari became "argumentative", and he was arrested.

It was subsequently found out that the UK resident was disqualified from driving at the time.

'Blatant disregard'

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit and while disqualified.

The court heard he had several previous convictions for similar driving offences in West Yorkshire.

Deemster Cook said Askari had a "blatant disregard" for court orders and for other vehicles and while he had pleaded guilty straight away, he would only be given some credit for that due to the overwhelming evidence against him.

The deemster noted that although the maximum sentence for driving while disqualified was six months in the UK sentencing guidelines, it was 12 on the Isle of Man.

Jailing him, Deemster Cook said it was "one of the most appalling driving records I have ever seen".

Askari was also banned from driving for five years, and banned from returning to the island for five years after being released.