A man from Anagh Coar has been sentenced to community service after admitting four offences.

Lee Simon Crawley pleaded guilty to going equipped for theft after police found him wearing socks on his hands.

He also admitted stealing a salad bowl from Port Erin Co-op, being drunk and disorderly and threatening behaviour.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered the 47-year-old to do 180 hours unpaid work in the next 12 months.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court how police saw two men running on Marathon Road in Douglas at 1.30am on August 29 last year.

They followed them into a lane and then spoke to them.

It was Crawley, who lives at Tramman Park, and another man, and Crawley was said to be wearing socks over his hands which he took off and let fall behind him.

The other man was found to have a car radio under his clothing and was carrying a bag containing the paint scraper and paint brush.

CCTV footage viewed later showed the pair looking through windows and the other male entering a garage.

Crawley claimed he was wearing socks on his hands because it was a cold night, despite it being August, and added that he sometimes wore tights on his hands.

He initially pleaded not guilty to going equipped for theft but changed his plea to guilty on the day of the trial.

On November 13, 2020, at 2.45pm, Crawley was seen on CCTV footage entering the Co-op on Station Road in Port Erin and putting a £3 salad bowl in his jacket before leaving without paying.

On April 11 this year Crawley himself called police to his home and said that neighbours upstairs had been fighting.

When officers arrived he became angry with them and started to walk upstairs saying: ’I will show you how to get in.’

CONFRONTATION

He then became involved in a confrontation with a different neighbour and was eventually arrested.

Crawley was said to have started kicking and headbutting a cage door in a police van.

He was taken to accident and emergency where he kicked out at police, but missed, and said: ’You’re about to have the biggest fight of your life.’

He then threatened to spit at police before swearing at a doctor.

Crawley later told police he had drunk half a 70cl bottle of vodka.

Defence advocate Louise Cooil said: ’It is quite clear alcohol has been a significant factor in all the offences committed.

’Mr Crawley accepts he has turned to drink since his most recent release and during lockdown when he has effectively been homeless.

’He has struggled in that time significantly and has mixed with people he wanted to avoid.’

Ms Cooil went on to say that her client was working with the Drug and Alcohol Team (DAT) and had also been in full-time employment since August. High Bailiff Jayne Hughes also ordered Crawley to pay £1,000 prosecution costs, due to the going equipped charge reaching the day of the trial. He will pay at a rate of £25 per week.