A Douglas man who headbutted his victim in the Outback bar has been put on probation for 18 months.

Billy Robert Sumner, of Empire Terrace, admitted common assault and was also ordered to pay his victim £500 in compensation.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes also banned Sumner from entering licensed premises and purchasing or being sold alcohol for 12 months after the 24-year-old admitted an offence of common assault.

A second charge of resisting arrest was withdrawn by the prosecution.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon said Sumner was in the Barrack Street bar in Douglas on March 7 at 2.30am. A woman in the Outback had accused Sumner of groping her and he was subsequently confronted by a man about it.

Sumner responded by headbutting the man before leaving the club but was later arrested in Duke Street where he struggled with police before being restrained.

Advocate Ian Kermode entered a basis of plea on behalf of his client in which Sumner said he had been confronted by the victim who he said had been intimidating.

He accepted he had headbutted the man, saying he was upset because he had been falsely accused of indecently assaulting the woman.

The court heard Sumner was already subject to a probation order imposed in September 2019 for theft.

A probation report said he had been working with probation but was unable to do community service due to sciatica. The report recommended a new probation order as the most appropriate sentence.

Mr Kermode said: ’It was a spontaneous act without pre-meditation arising from what he would say was a false allegation of indecent assault.

’He admitted responsibility in police interview and wishes to sincerely apologise to the victim.