A man who brandished a knife while drunk in his family home has been sentenced.

Simon Craig Jones, of Park Avenue, Douglas, was sentenced to probation when he appeared before magistrates for sentencing on Thursday.

Jones, aged 52, had admitted a charge of affray.

He was also banned from entering licensed premises and purchasing or being sold alcohol for 18 months.

The court heard that Jones has already spent four weeks on remand, the equivalent of an eight-week sentence.

We previously reported that police were called to Jones’ family home on August 6 at 7.20pm.

He was said to have taken the knife from his belt and pointed it at one family member, saying: ’That would cut you wouldn’t it.’

Fearful

His family left the house but Jones was said to have followed them outside, still holding the knife before going back inside.

He was said to be intoxicated at the time of the incident and was subsequently arrested when police arrived.

At police headquarters, when interviewed, he said that he did not dispute the evidence.

His family said that they had been fearful and frightened of him but that he had a problem with alcohol which had escalated recently and they wanted him to get help.

The court heard that Jones has no previous convictions.

Defence advocate Winston Taylor said: ’The offence was committed while Mr Jones was in a highly intoxicated state. Despite this there were no threats to harm anyone though his actions created fear and anxiety due to the way he presented himself.

’The knife is part of a belt buckle. The blade is two to two and half inches long and is also a bottle opener.

Ashamed

’He has expressed his personal shame for how he has behaved.

’He has worked in a highly respectable job for 30 years.’

Mr Taylor went on to say that his client’s issues had begun three years ago when his father died and he had begun caring for his mother.

Jones had also suffered ill health himself which had required treatment off-island.

His mother and aunt had then died and his alcohol consumption had increased.

The advocate said that Jones had been working with addiction services charity Motiv8.

Magistrates cited Jones’ guilty plea, his lack of previous and the fact that he had spent four weeks on remand as reasons for not sending him to custody.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs totalling £125.