Parliament Street proved an apt location for a Ramsey prankster to ignite a rogue firework, appropriately enough on November 5.

However, this act of Bonfire Night sedition landed Thomas Daniel Richards with a hefty fine when he appeared before Douglas magistrates.

For the prosecution, Rachael Braidwood told the court CCTV showed the 18-year-old hanging about at the side of the Plough pub soon before 11pm, before running away.

She told the court smoke could be seen coming from the lane at the side of the Plough before a firework violently discharged straight across the road.

‘Two women who witnessed this said they were alarmed and distressed by what they had seen and both identified the defendant whom they had seen fixing the firework to the sidewall of the pub then lighting the fuse,’ she said.

Defending the teenager, Ian Kermode reminded the court it was an offence punishable only by a fine.

‘The defendant was having fun on bonfire night,’ he said.

‘He had already set up fireworks in different locations on the outskirts of the town. This was a small rocket by the pub. He had no intention of causing alarm and had intended it to go up vertically, but it fell and went instead across Parliament Street.

‘It was just a silly prank.’

He told the court the defendant had himself described his actions as ‘stupid’.

‘He apologises to all concerned,’ Mr Kermode told the court.

Passing sentence, magistrates’ chairman Julian Ashcroft told him: ‘Setting fireworks off in a public place like that is is not a very good idea as you have just found out.’

He was fined £350 and must also pay a £50 contribution towards costs.