A 30-year-old man has been fined £800 for obstructing police and being drunk and disorderly outside 1886 bar in Regent Street, Douglas.

John Charles Walster, of Croit ny Glionney, Colby, pleaded guilty to both offences while a third charge of assaulting a police officer was withdrawn.

Prosecuting advocate James Robinson told the court that police were outside the bar on August 30 at 11.50pm last year.

They were speaking to door staff after Walster was said to have been ejected from the pub.

Walster’s partner was then spoken to by police officers, which prompted him to shout ’get off her’ and attempt to intervene.

He was physically moved by officers but he started to swear and grabbed one constable’s arms as he tried to get to another officer.

Walster eventually had to be restrained on the ground and was subsequently arrested.

Defence advocate Peter Russell said: ’The female referred to was Mr Walster’s partner.

’He saw she was being spoken to by police and instinct took over and he went to assist.

’He had been drinking and logic wasn’t at the forefront of his mind.

’He very much regrets it now.’

Mr Russell went on to say that there had been a long gap in his client’s offending, between 2012 and 2020 before the latest incident.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes gave Walster credit for his guilty pleas and told him: ’It was a foolish thing to do.

’Surely if you had spoken to them it could have been resolved. The incident could have escalated.

’I will deal with this as a drunken one-off incident.’

Mrs Hughes fined him £600 for obstructing police and £200 for being drunk and disorderly.

Walster was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs which he will pay in full, along with the fine, by November 30.