A 24-year-old man has been jailed for 20 weeks for punching his sister in the face during a row.

Charlton Andrew Watterson, had previously denied assault causing actual bodily harm with a pre-trial review due to take place but on Tuesday he changed his plea to guilty.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes also banned him from buying or being sold alcohol for 12 months.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that Watterson and his sister were in a rear lane at Derby Road in Douglas on August 30 at around lunchtime when the pair started to argue.

They were said to have been drinking the night before and had not been to sleep.

Witnesses called police after hearing the pair arguing.

Watterson was said to have been trying to get into a friend’s house while his sister was trying to persuade him to leave.

One of the witnesses said they saw Watterson punch his sister in the face and throw her to the ground.

The altercation was said to have lasted around 20 minutes.

When police arrived Watterson was helping his sister up but she had blood dripping from her head.

She claimed her brother had stamped on her head and was suffering from a one-inch would to the back of her head which had to be glued shut at the hospital.

She was also said to have a bruised nose, swelling to her throat and small lumps around her scalp.

When interviewed Watterson, who lives in Empire Terrace, Douglas, gave ’no comment’ responses to all questions.

His advocate Ian Kermode entered a basis of plea on behalf of his client in which Watterson said he and his sister had been drinking and had pushed each other during the argument.

He admitted punching her once, saying she fell to the ground and banged her head.

He denied any stamping had occurred.

The court heard that he has a previous conviction in June 2019 for possessing a bladed article and one for an assault in April 2019.

He also has a conviction for grievious bodily harm in 2015 committed against his sister.

A probation report said that Watterson had engaged with probation previously but expressed concerned he had replaced drug issues with alcohol use.

Mr Kermode said: ’Clearly this is a family dispute which has spiralled out of control. They had each other by the throat. It was at that point Mr Watterson punched her. There was no stamping or kicking and no weapon used. This was simply a spontaneous family dispute that escalated out of control. On the scale of ABH injuries we would put this towards the bottom of the range.’

The advocate went on to say that his client had spent seven weeks on remand since the incident which had caused him to reflect on matters and come to the conclusion his actions went beyond self-defence.

’In the cold light of day, he wishes to apologise to your worship, the police and his sister.

’Clearly this is a family relationship that needs mending and bridges need building,’ said Mr Kermode.

Mrs Hughes ordered no costs or compensation in light of the immediate custodial sentence.