AN ELDERLY man with alcohol problems, almost three times the drink drive limit in his Nissan Note car, was so intoxicated he swerved into oncoming traffic, an Isle of Wight court was told.    

Paul Sillence, of Captain's Parade, East Cowes, admitted drink driving on October 26 when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Friday, November 10.

During the early evening, a woman driving a car along Fairlee Road towards Whippingham, was two vehicles behind the 75-year-old.

She saw the pensioner brake when traffic lights were green, swerve in and out of the lane he was in, driving at 15mph (well below the speed limit), and hitting and driving onto the kerb, said Lauren Stone, prosecuting.

Sillence, with no previous convictions, was being 'flashed' by other drivers as he drove onto the wrong side of the road into traffic.

He eventually stopped in the middle of the road.

When police arrived, he failed a roadside breath test and later provided a reading of 103 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35.

For Sillence, Michael McGoldrick said his client has significant health and mobility difficulties, with underlying alcohol issues, and will not drive again.

Magistrates disqualified Sillence from driving for 26 months, with a £333 fine, £85 costs and a £133 surcharge.

Presiding magistrate Paul Gane told Sillence: "The public had real concerns about your standard of driving."