A former professional footballer who drove while nearly four times the drink-drive limit has been handed a suspended sentence and banned from driving for five years.

Richard William Holden was stopped by police in Sulby and failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 131. The legal limit is 35.

After pleading guilty to the offence magistrates sentenced the 57-year-old to three months’ custody, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to take an extended driving test at the end of the ban and complete a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

During his professional career Holden played for Manchester City, Oldham, Watford and Blackpool, before moving to the island and playing for Peel, which he later went on to manage.

We previously reported that, on October 12 at 9.10pm, he was driving near to the Ginger Hall pub when he was stopped by police, initially due to an issue with his Vauxhall Astra’s headlights.

But when officers spoke to him he was said to be smelling of alcohol and slurring his words.

Holden, who lives at Magher Drine, Peel, was asked if he had been drinking and told police he had drunk three pints about an hour before.

After failing a roadside breathalyser test he was arrested and taken to headquarters where he blew the reading of 131.

The court heard that Holden, who was at one time head of the outpatient physiotherapy department at Noble’s Hospital, has no significant previous convictions.

Defence advocate Jim Travers asked the court to follow the recommendation of a probation report which suggested a suspended sentence as the most appropriate penalty.

The advocate said: ’Mr Holden is a mature gentleman essentially appearing for the first time. There were no serious aggravating factors other than the reading itself. He co-operated at the scene and engaged with officers.

’He provided a sample of breath knowing full well a high reading would likely be registered.

’He didn’t fail to provide as many might have done in his position.’

Mr Travers went on to refer to ’private and sensitive’ information which he said was mentioned in the probation report which he would not go into in open court.

He also handed letters of reference in for his client.

’We would ask the court to follow the recommendation of the probation report and treat this as a one-off blip,’ said the advocate.

’Mr Holden will have learnt a very serious lesson from this and a disqualification will serve as a constant reminder.’

Magistrates also ordered him to pay £125 prosecution costs within 28 days.