A businessman has been fined £700 after admitting threatening behaviour during the test drive of a Bentley.

Richard Malcolm Powell, aged 60, of Lhergy Cripperty, Union Mills, was arrested after an incident at Island Tyres and Exhaust on South Quay in Douglas.

Charges of driving while disqualified and a section 2 offence against him were withdrawn.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that Powell went to Jackson’s car salesroom on July 16.

He wanted to test drive the Bentley but asked a member of staff there to drive it for him as he was disqualified at the time.

They began driving around and Powell was then said to have started asking the man if he knew the old branch manager.

The employee said that the tone of the conversation became uncomfortable and Powell then asked him to drop him off in town.

He agreed and asked him where, to which Powell answered: ’I’ll show you.’

The employee said that the situation was becoming increasingly uncomfortable so he stopped at Island Tyres and Exhaust and got out of the car.

Powell also got out and the man told him the test drive was over.

However, Powell was said to have become increasingly aggressive, gritting his teeth and raising his fist, with the man saying he thought he was going to hit him.

Mr Swain said that it was an ’intimidating situation’.

Members of staff at Island Tyres went out and Powell walked off but was later arrested.

When interviewed by police he answered ’no comment’ to all questions.

Mr Swain said: ’This appears to have been an incident simply of Mr Powell’s making and fortunately it wasn’t as serious as it could have been.’

The prosecutor said that CCTV footage had been corrupted in relation to the other charges which had been dropped.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said: ’Mr Powell is apologetic for what happened. He accepted there was gesticulation and his language wasn’t what it should have been.’

Powell was given until January 8 to pay the fine.