A 34-year-old painter and decorator has been fined £1,250 for resisting arrest and disorderly behaviour on licensed premises.

Gavin Donald Thomas Faragher, of Mountfield Road, Onchan, was Pava sprayed by police after a struggle outside the Woodbourne Hotel on Alexander D.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes also banned him from buying or being sold alcohol for one month.

Prosecuting advocate James Robinson told the court that Faragher was drinking the Woodbourne on November 22 at 8.10pm.

Police were called to the pub after a report of an altercation in the bar.

Officers arrived and while they were making inquiries, Faragher was said to have approached, shouting and swearing at one witness saying: ’Tell the truth.’

He continued his anger, this time swearing at police and saying: ’You need to do your job.’

Faragher was escorted outside but continued shouting and swearing.

He was subsequently arrested but tensed up, swearing again and telling officers: ’You’re not going to search me.’

He then refused to get in a police van telling officers where to go, as he continued to resist.

Faragher was then put on the ground as he continued to struggle and was eventually Pava sprayed.

The court heard that his last conviction was nine years ago.

A probation report said that Faragher was a self-employed painter and decorator who had been out of work during the Covid-19 restrictions and had suffered a relationship breakdown.

Faragher said that he had contacted Motiv8 as he admitted he had been drinking too much.

Defence advocate Kate Alexander said: ’Mr Faragher said he believed he was defending a friend but he ended up in a worse position.’

Ms Alexander asked for credit to be given for her client’s guilty plea and asked that he be spared a ban from entering licensed premises as he was sometimes required to work there.

High Bailiff Mrs Hughes fined Faragher £500 for disorderly behaviour on licensed premises and £750 for resisting arrest.

He was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs, which he will pay, along with the fine, at a rate of £100 per month.

The original headline to this story said that the defendant was unemployed. Apologies.