Driver banned after two crashes in a month

20-year-old Richard Kneen was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse yesterday after previously pleading guilty to two counts of driving without due care and attention.

 

On January 22nd he lost control of his Honda Civic on the Peel to Kirk Michael Coast Road flipping the car and landing in a ravine - he shattered his ankle and fractured his legs.

 

Just over a month earlier, on December 19th, Kneen had once again lost control of his car going into a bend on Lezayre Road in Sulby - this time crashing into a hedge.

 

His advocate told the court Kneen's "inexperience" had cost him on both occasions saying he'd learnt a "very valuable lesson" and was now a changed man behind the wheel.

 

Sentencing him Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said he'd been driving in excess of his ability saying "you failed to learn the lessons you should have learnt".

 

Kneen also admitted to driving without a licence after failing to apply for it when he passed his test and failing to notify the change of ownership on his vehicle.

 

He was handed 12 penalty points and has been disqualified from driving for six-months.