AN ISLE of Wight plumber who crashed into a cemetery wall and tried to “blag it” with police – all while serving a suspended sentence – has been banned from the road.

Gregg Wicks, of Upton Road, Ryde, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Tuesday, March 19.

The 33-year-old admitted drink driving in Cowes, on March 3 of this year.

Prosecutor, Liz Miller, said Wicks had been driving his BMW along Mill Hill Road at around 2.15am.

She said he went on to crash into a cemetery wall, and when residents heard the collision, they saw Wicks exit the car from the driver’s side and drag a female out of the front passenger seat.

Ms Miller said he initially denied being the driver of the vehicle but went on to admit he had been behind the wheel in police interview.

The domestic plumbing and heating engineer registered a breath-alcohol reading of 46 when the legal limit is 35.

The court heard Wicks had already been handed a 24-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, in Gloucester, in November last year, and that order included a 90-day alcohol abstinence requirement.

Barry Arnett, defending, said Wicks had been out with his partner and did not really know the road.

He said he drove through a large body of water at a junction and crashed into a lime-rendered wall.

The court heard his partner was not injured in the crash itself, but hit her head afterwards, and was taken to hospital for treatment – discharged a couple of hours later.

“He’s absolutely mortified,” said Mr Arnett. “It could have been a lot worse.”

Mr Arnett said Wicks consumed more alcohol than he should have and accepted it was his fault.

Addressing why he initially denied driving the vehicle, Mr Arnett conceded Wicks “tried to blag it initially”.

Wicks was fined £576 and disqualified from driving for 14 months.

He was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £230 surcharge.