A 29-year-old man has been jailed for 28 weeks for assaulting a police officer and obstructing a drug search.

Stuart James Corkill, of Laburnum Avenue, Douglas, was convicted after a trial but also pleaded guilty to riding a bicycle on the pavement and two counts of having no lights.

The court heard that Corkill elbowed a police officer who was trying to search him on February 27.

Four officers were required to restrain him and Pava spray was eventually used to calm him down.

Defence advocate Paul Glover said: ’Throughout the probation report Mr Corkill has mentioned his innocence. The report mentions issues with "authoritarian attitudes".

’Mr Corkill is incredibly realistic. He knows an immediate custodial sentence is likely.

’He is clearly not daunted by the prospect of custody, he’s been there before. It’s clear he needs to undertake change.’

The court heard that the offences put Corkill in breach of an early-release licence relating to a sentence imposed for another assault on a police officer.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes sentenced Corkill to 28 weeks for each offence of obstructing the search and assaulting the police officer, to run concurrently.

No separate penalty was made for the bicycle-related offences.