Distracted driver charged after hitting oncoming car

Man pleads guilty to driving without due care and attention

A court's heard stones in the road distracted a van driver who strayed into the middle of the road and hit an oncoming car.

Thirty-nine-year-old Phillip Eamon Blair of Castlemona Avenue in Douglas appeared before magistrates at Douglas courthouse.

He pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, as well as having no tax and no driving licence on 22 October last year.

Prosecution advocate Barry Swain told the court Blair was driving his van towards Peel from St John's at around 7:30pm.

The hearing was told Blair heard gravel rattle against his vehicle and was momentarily distracted before sideswiping a car heading the other way.

When police arrived, he admitted his mistake and officers noticed his tax had run out six months earlier.

Further checks showed his driving licence had expired in December 2017.

He was fined £760 and ordered to pay £125 towards prosecution costs.

Magistrates also put five points on his driving licence.