It was a dream come true for fisherman Aaron Dickinson after he netted a £250,000 win on a scratchcard.
He happily posed for pictures staged by the National Lottery to celebrate his win in January 2017 and said that thanks to the win, he was setting his sights on buying the boat of his dreams and starting his own business.
But almost two years on, he has been before the courts after police had to use Pava spray, handcuffs and leg restraints to subdue him.
He admitted the offences and will pay the fine, and prosecution costs at a rate of £50 per week.
He was also banned from licensed premises for two months.
Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the court that, on October 12 at 10.35pm, police were called to Lord Street bus station in Douglas.
Dickinson was there with two other men and was said to be shouting and swearing.
He was warned to calm down but ignored police and was eventually arrested.
He continued resisting officers and Pava spray was used to restrain him before he was put in handcuffs and leg restraints.
When charged he said: ’I would like the cameras in the area to be checked ’cos I was assaulted.’
Defence advocate Kate Alexander said: ’The circumstances are that Mr Dickinson was working until 3pm.
’ Unfortunately he had forgotten his lunch. He was working at the abattoir and hadn’t had anything to eat.
’He tells me he seldom drinks and had a bit too much and went to get the bus home where he had a disagreement.
’He was hit in the face but when police arrived the person had left the scene and he felt somewhat aggrieved.
’With a few drinks on board his sense of perspective was lost.’
Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told Dickinson while passing sentence: ’You went about things in completely the wrong way and I suspect it was the alcohol speaking on your behalf.’
Dickinson bought the winning £2 scratchcard from a Spar shop in Douglas in January 2017 using the last change he had in his pocket because he was feeling lucky.
Realising he had won, he said: ’I honestly don’t think I have ever screamed so loudly in all of my life.
’I was literally screaming all of the way back to the shop - and running as fast as I could at the same time.
’When the shop confirmed that it was a winning ticket I didn’t know whether to scream even louder or just burst into tears.’
He added: ’This will be the year when all of my dreams finally come true following my scratchcard win.
’I will be able to put a deposit down on my own home - something I never believed I would be able to do - and launch my own fishing business.’