A Douglas teenager has been sentenced to community service for provoking behaviour.

Dylan Edward Wiseman, of Cronk Grianagh estate, admitted the offence and was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months by magistrates.

We previously reported that, on December 10 at 10am, Wiseman and Brian Graham Lowther, aged 19, of Hillside Avenue, Douglas, were on Oak Road in Peel.

They were said to be drunk and approached a man who was on the telephone to his wife.

Wiseman was said to have shouted in the man’s face. The man kept walking but then turned and swore at the pair.

Lowther was then said to have squared up to the man saying: ’What are you going to do?’

He then threw punches at the man’s head before they ended up on the ground wrestling.

Wiseman was then said to have grabbed the man before he broke free and police arrived.

Wiseman was arrested at the scene but Lowther ran off and jumped into a lake before police had to use Pava spray to restrain him.

Lowther was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail for common assault on a previous court appearance.

Defending Wiseman, advocate Louise Cooil said that it was not a joint charge and that the victim had been specific in his statement that her client had thrown no punches and had not grabbed him to enable Lowther to punch him.

’He finds his own behaviour somewhat inexplicable,’ said the advocate. ’He is ashamed and remorseful this has occurred.’

The court heard that Wiseman is currently subject to a suspended sentence imposed in November for affray, property damage, disorderly behaviour on licensed premises and threatening behaviour.

custody

But Ms Cooil asked the court to consider if the current offence had come before the court at the same time as the previous ones, would it have pushed him over the custody threshold. ’The writer of the probation report says he has engaged well since the imposition of the order,’ said the advocate.

’He has started looking for employment and has removed himself from his previous peer group.

’He would say he was associating with a particular friendship group who were perhaps not the best influence on him.’

Magistrates decided not to activate the 14-week suspended sentence but magistrates chair Charles Fargher told Wiseman: ’The decision not to activate the suspended sentence is one we had not taken lightly. If you were to commit any further offences the next court would not take that view. We’re giving you a chance.’