A Douglas man has been jailed for 10 weeks after waving a knife outside a love rival’s house.

Darren Noel Dooley, of Oak Avenue, Pulrose, admitted an offence of possessing an offensive weapon after a row was sparked by allegations of his girlfriend cheating on him.

We previously reported how, at 2.45am on June 4, police responded to a 999 call after reports of a man brandishing a knife in Marathon Road in Douglas.

When officers arrived they found Dooley sitting in a van and he told them that he was waiting for someone.

In the van, police found a kitchen knife with a six-inch blade under the passenger seat.

A witness in a nearby house told police that they had seen Dooley outside the van with the knife shouting: ’Get out here now.’

In a police interview Dooley said he had received texts from several men threatening him and he believed his ex-partner had been cheating.

He said he used the knife for eating his dinner but had believed the men may attack him.

Defending Dooley in court, his advocate Ian Kermode said: ’It’s fair to say Mr Dooley was in an emotional state. He was upset and unsettled regarding relationship issues.

’He was in prison in April and it was alleged his partner was sexually intimate with an acquaintance and that individual then taunted him.

’The straw that broke the camel’s back was a text from the individual in the early hours. He got out of bed and drove to Marathon Road where he believed that individual was residing. He wasn’t intoxicated. It seems the male didn’t make a complaint or see the knife. He was the only person in the street.

’His intention was to simply find out what the true facts were, he did not intend to harm the individual. However, he accepts it was misguided to take the knife out with him. He didn’t take it purposely with him, it was already in the van. The acquaintance didn’t see the knife. He would say he was provoked by these allegations.’

Mr Kermode went on to say that his client was not a heavily convicted man although he had been sent to prison earlier in the year.

’Those matters, obstructing police and resisting arrest, occurred at her home. His recent offending seems wrapped up with her,’ said the advocate.

’He had been running a quite successful plumbing business until May, until he was signed off, but he is now well enough to return to work.’

Mr Kermode added that Dooley had been liaising with Mental Health Services and taking medication.

A letter from his father said that the family had suffered four bereavements so far this year.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said while passing sentence: ’There was some pre-meditation. You didn’t go knowingly taking the knife but you did choose to go to the address in the early hours ready to confront the person.

’Such activity very rarely has a happy ending. Had anybody come out, the consequences could have been disasterous.

’This occurred two days after your sentence expired for resisting a police officer.

’There was previous assault in 2016 and a public disorder offence.

’Anyone seen in the early hours of the morning with a knife in the street can expect custody.

’You were described as brandishing a knife in the street, disasterous consequences could have followed.’