A 30-year-old man has been fined £100 for breaching a licensing ban.

Shaun Anthony Ward, of Keppel Road, Willaston, admitted the offence and was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.

The court heard how Ward was banned from buying alcohol on May 15 for four months.

However, on May 30, he was seen in Ellan Vannin Fuels on Peel Road with another man.

The other man took eight cans of Stella Artois lager and three cans of Jack Daniels and Coke to the counter.

But the man’s phone then rang and he went outside. Before he did, he handed cash to Ward, who then proceeded to pay for the booze.

Defence advocate Louise Cooil said: ’Mr Ward handed over the cash. But he has not gone in and deliberately breached the ban. In that split second, he has not thought.

’It is a breach but a very technical breach. He hasn’t breached the ban in the past and it is due to expire on September 15.’

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that she would sentence Ward on the basis that he did not go into the garage with the intent to buy alcohol.

Mrs Hughes ruled that no further ban should be made and Ward’s ban will end as planned on September 15.