A former soldier was this week sentenced to 100 hours’ community service after punching a female youth worker outside a pub.

Homer Andrew Holmes, aged 49, of Darragh Way, Douglas, was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to the woman and £125 prosecution costs.

Holmes said he hit the woman in error while he was trying to punch a man beside her.

When he appeared in court on the charges previously, we reported how, on April 27 at 8.30pm, Holmes got into a row at the Albert Hotel near the bus station in Douglas.

He was told he could only drink his pint outside if he used a plastic glass but he was said to have got angry and was clearly drunk.

Holmes refused to put the cider in a plastic glass and told the barmaid: ’You’re not getting the glass, I’m drinking it.’ He then swore, telling her where to go.

Holmes punched the glass in the door, smashing it.

By now, several youths had come out of nearby Café Laare, which is run by the Department of Education Youth Service in Lord Street to witness the incident.

Some were said to be goading Holmes and at this point two youth club workers, a man and woman, came out and tried to intervene.

However, things escalated and Holmes tried to punch the man but missed and hit the woman instead, knocking her to the ground.

Holmes was said to have continued trying to punch people but was then punched by his partner who knocked him to the ground, where he lay until paramedics arrived.

Paramedics roused Holmes but he refused to go to hospital and was subsequently arrested.

He admitted punching the door of the pub but said he would never deliberately hit a woman and this had been a reckless act during which he had intended to punch the man.

A probation report said Holmes had served in Iraq and had been a soldier for eight years.

Defence advocate Louise Cooil said: ’Mr Holmes had been out drinking all day and he would say drank more than usual. It was only his second time out in the town since moving here as he would usually only drink at home with his partner.

’He moved to the island earlier this year and was out of work for a long period which caused him stress.

’There are days when he feels down and this was one of those days.

’There is no excuse he wishes to make. There was confusion between him and the barmaid and it escalated. It was a moment of madness where he lost sense and reason.’

Ms Cooil said her client had served his country and worked all his life.

damage

He had also contacted the pub to arrange to pay for the damage he caused and written letters of apology to the woman.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes sentenced Holmes to 100 hours for each of three offences of property damage, common assault, and behaviour likely to cause belief unlawful violence may be used, all to run concurrently.