A man who breached Covid restrictions on gatherings during lockdown has been given a caution.

David Lloyd Chambers, of New Road, Laxey, had been preparing meals for the elderly at the Pit Stop in Laxey.

The 36-year-old was initially offered a fixed penalty notice but forgot to pay it, which resulted in the matter being brought to court.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that police were called on May 17 at 2am after reports of a noisy party at the Pit Stop, which may be breaching the Covid restrictions.

When police arrived they were said to have found four people inside.

Officers knocked on the door and said that the occupants tried to hide with two trying to leave by a back door.

Chambers appeared at an upstairs window and would not come down for a short time but then did so.

He told police that he and staff had stayed on after finishing work, preparing meals for the elderly and vulnerable to be delivered the next day.

Mr Swain said that it was a ’noble cause’ but that Chambers had been breaching the regulations.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood said that his client was having a drink with staff before restrictions ended a couple of days later.

’This is not a case where he has been off-island or associating with people he hadn’t been with all day,’ said the advocate.

Mr Wood produced several ’thank you’ cards which Chambers had received for his work.

Mr Swain withdrew a charge of failing to comply with Covid-19 restrictions under the Emergency Powers Act after Chambers agreed to accept the caution.