A man who chased his chip shop business partner out of a takeaway then assaulted him in the street has been put on probation for 18 months.

Shane Michael Butterworth, aged 34, of Malew Street, Castletown, admitted common assault with an original charge of assault causing actual bodily harm being withdrawn after the complainant in the case declined to assist the prosecution.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes also banned Butterworth from entering licensed premises and buying or being sold alcohol for six months.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court that Butterworth left the Union pub in Castletown on February 14 at 7pm with the victim.

They went to the Kowloon takeaway but the victim was then seen running out with Butterworth in pursuit, swearing and shouting: ’You think you’re funny.’

Butterworth then grabbed the man’s neck from behind and threw him to the ground.

He was then seen by witnesses kicking him.

After being arrested and interviewed by police Butterworth said that they had gone out at around 2.30pm but that he could not remember anything after the Union pub, saying he ’blanked out’.

The court heard that there were no serious injuries caused with the victim only suffering a grazed elbow.

The court heard that Butterworth has a previous conviction for assault in 2012 for which he received a custodial sentence.

A probation report said that the two men ran a chip shop together.

The report said that Butterworth was a binge drinker who wanted to work with probation and that long-standing issues could be addressed by a probation order.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood said: ’Alcohol appears to be a factor in Mr Butterworth’s offending history.

’This was a relatively brief incident in the street where the defendant walked away.

’He accepts he needs to be a better man and to his credit he has recognised that.

’When he does overindulge it can lead to trouble.

’He has asked me to apologise for the pain and suffering he has caused. He hopes that, with time, things can get back to an even keel.’

Mr Wood went on to say that, if compensation was awarded to the victim, it would in effect be coming from the victim himself, as the pair are still business partners. The advocate said that the two men had been forced to close one of their shops and that it had been a difficult time.

High Bailiff Mrs Hughes also ordered Butterworth to pay £125 prosecution costs.