A 23-year-old man who brawled with staff at a restaurant and spat in the face of police officers has been sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Jack Warren McKernan is already serving a 36-month sentence imposed at the Court of General Gaol Delivery last month for other offences.

On Thursday he pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault and two of assaulting a police officer.

Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court that McKernan went into the Savoy Hotel restaurant on July 30 at 7.25pm.

He demanded to use a phone and began slamming his hands down and throwing his arms around.

Restaurant staff refused to let him use the phone and called for the owner who asked McKernan to leave.

McKernan, who lives in Mona Street, Douglas, continued to be irate and pointed at the owner aggressively.

He then walked off with staff following him to the door but McKernan was then said to have aimed a headbutt at the owner.

However, the owner retaliated by punching McKernan, knocking him down.

Two elderly customers who were witnessing the drama left without paying as they were so upset by the incident but they later returned later to settle their bill.

McKernan got back up and was being restrained by one member of staff from behind as he attempted to break free and tried to punch the owner.

McKernan managed to throw a punch but it was deflected and he then fell over again.

He got up and was restrained again as he swung his arms at staff.

A third member of staff then came to help but McKernan pushed a door in her face.

As McKernan was leaving he swung several punches, but just one connected, and he also spat in the direction of the staff.

He was later detained by police and was said to be smelling of alcohol, unsteady on his feet, and slurring his words.

McKernan was taken to hospital after an alleged medical episode.

But once at the accident and emergency department he spat in the face of two police officers who required treatment themselves afterwards.

He was interviewed and handed in a prepared statement claiming he had acted in self-defence at the restaurant though he had a ’cloudy’ memory of events.

The court heard that McKernan has numerous previous convictions including ones for grievous bodily harm, affray, assaulting police and resisting arrest.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood asked for credit to be given for his client’s guilty pleas and said: ’Clearly the custody threshold has been crossed. Mr McKernan is currently serving a lengthy sentence.

’Since his incarceration he has engaged with the authorities and is engaging in education. It is hoped he will continue to do so.

’This could be described as a spree lasting a relatively brief period of time. He was in the process of leaving the restaurant but stopped at the door. We accept there was a movement of his head. We are not blaming the actions of the owner but he was hit forcibly in the face as a result of his behaviour. It was justifiable behaviour by the owner and he was put on his behind.

’We would submit, having been the recipient of such a blow could have had a discombobulating effect on his reasoning. He accepts he was spitting in the direction of staff, but not at staff.’

Magistrates sentenced McKernan to two months’ custody for each police assault and four months for each common assault, all to run consecutively to each other and to his current 36-month sentence.

Magistrates chairman Geoff Collier told McKernan: ’Your behaviour was appalling.’