A 26-year-old man who breached Covid-19 restrictions in January has been fined £375.

Liam Priestnal, of Lheannag Park, admitted breaching the restrictions on gatherings and was also ordered by magistrates to pay £125 prosecution costs.

Magistrates said that they had taken into account the fact that Priestnal spent seven days in custody after being arrested, the equivalent of a two-week sentence.

We previously reported that Priestnal was found by police at the home of Nathan Alexander Orme, aged 28, of Anagh Coar Road, Douglas, on January 25.

Police went to Orme’s home after receiving an anonymous report about another man being present.

When officers arrived Orme answered the door and said that his friend, Liam Priestnal, was just collecting his phone charger.

Police entered the property and both men reiterated the claim that Priestnal was there to collect his charger.

Orme then claimed that his friend was part of his ’bubble’ despite that rule, which allowed people to mix with other households, only applying in the UK at the time and not in the Isle of Man.

When interviewed, Orme then claimed that Priestnal had moved into his house during lockdown but police found none of his belongings in the house.

Police officers at the scene also reported that during the arrest, Orme had said to Priestnal: ’Say you live with me.’

After pleading guilty Priestnal entered a basis of plea saying he had left his home to buy groceries and had then decided to check on Orme who he said he was concerned about during lockdown.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers handed in letters of reference for Priestnal and said that there was ’strong mitigation’ for his client’s actions.

The advocate said: ’Mr Priestnal went to Mr Orme’s property because he was concerned about him. He had been suffering from mental health issues and Mr Priestnal went to check on him but he panicked when police came.

’There have been no further incidents since that day.’

Mr Rodgers went on to say that Priestnal also had mental health issues and there would be concerns if he was given a custodial sentence.

The advocate also said that his client would lose his employment if he was sent to prison.

Magistrates ordered Priestnal to pay the fine and costs at a rate of £25 per week.

We previously reported that Orme was jailed for six weeks in February after admitting breaching the restrictions on gatherings.