A man has been jailed for 38 weeks after embarking on a one-man crime spree consisting of 20 offences.

David William Atkinson, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent, two counts of having no driving licence, two of having no insurance, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident, failing to notify a change of ownership, having no vehicle licence, four separate charges of property damage, possessing a prohibited article in a public place and five benefit fraud charges.

The 29-year-old was also ordered to pay back £7,744.41 in overpaid benefits and was banned from driving for 18 months, with a condition to retake his test at the end of the ban.

We previously reported how, on January 7, Atkinson came off his scooter when he hit a parked Vauxhall Insignia in Ballaquayle Road but got back on and rode away.

Police went to the address to which the scooter was registered, but the occupant said that they had sold the scooter in June 2016 and could not remember who had bought it.

On February 8 Atkinson went to police headquarters and admitted that he was the rider and that he had left the scene, and had no licence or insurance.

He later pleaded guilty to seven driving-related offences.

In another court appearance Atkinson had pleaded guilty to five counts of benefit fraud and one of possessing a lock knife in a public place.

The court heard that Atkinson had been arrested at Cronk Grianagh estate in Braddan while carrying the knife on February 24.

Further investigations revealed that he had also been claiming benefits while he was working at various construction companies between August 2015 and May 2016.

During yet another court appearance Atkinson had also admitted to three driving offences, relating to taking a Mercedes without consent on February 24, as well as four separate charges of damaging cars after a row with his partner on March 4.

Defence advocate Pamela Pringle said that Atkinson had had a ’very bad year’, had been struggling to support his family and had been suffering from a nervous condition.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said: ’You describe yourself as having a "very bad year". You certainly did.’