A man from Merseyside has been fined £500 after admitting obstructing police by giving a false name when he arrived on the ferry.

Mert James Gercek, aged 22, of Knowsley Road, St Helens, was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.

Prosecutor Richard Butters told the court how, on April 9, police were at the Sea Terminal in Douglas and approached Gercek in relation to another matter.

When officers asked him if he was Mert James Gercek, he said that he wasn’t and gave a different name as well as a false date of birth and address.

Checks confirmed Gercek’s identity and he was subsequently arrested.

During a police interview he gave a ‘no comment’ response to questions.

Mr Butters said that Gercek had ‘significant previous offending’.

Defence advocate Paul Glover asked for credit to be given for his client’s early guilty plea on his first appearance in court.

‘It was a short issue, he did give full details. He said he panicked in the situation,’ said Mr Glover.

The advocate went on to say that Gercek had no money on him and didn’t have his mobile phone so he had no access to funds but asked that a financial penalty be imposed with days in default.

‘If he’s not able to pay he’ll be looking at days in default,’ said Mr Glover.

Gercek must pay the fine and costs forthwith or there are 35 days in default of payment.