A 59-year-old businessman is to be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to breaching the emergency powers regulations.

Richard Malcolm Powell arrived in the island on March 20 by private jet when he was informed he was required to supply his name, date of birth and place of residency while here.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon told the court that Powell provided officials with a fake name, Richard Howell, as well as an incorrect date of birth, address and telephone number.

After concerns were raised by officials at the airport, the information was handed to police who on Thursday March 26, located him at Rivendell Cottage, a holiday cottage on Lhergy Cripperty in Union Mills.

Powell, of Gloucester Road, Bristol, gave no comment at the time of his arrest or subsequent charging.

An outstanding warrant existed in the island for Powell.

In 2015, he was convicted, in his absence, for a number of thefts from the Wessex Garage, Douglas. Powell was found guilty of stealing a fire extinguisher and a fire bucket containing sand.

He was also convicted of driving without a licence or insurance.

Defence advocate Andrew Baker asked High Bailiff Jayne Hughes to take into account his client’s guilty pleas and requested she sentence him for both the existing and outstanding offences.

Mrs Hughes said she would, but that she would 'consider an immediate custodial sentence’ which would require a report to be produced for which the court would have to adjourn before sentencing.

The prosecution requested that Powell be remanded in custody given that he had 'purposely provided false details’ and 'potentially hindered any self-isolation’ which made it difficult for officials to detail his whereabouts.

Miss Cubbon said there was a 'real risk’ that Powell would commit further offences or fail to surrender himself to the court for sentencing.

Mr Baker requested bail be granted and that Powell could remain at the private cottage he had rented for the duration of his stay, with police able to conduct random doorstep checks.

He added that during the current lockdown, 'even a man of his means would struggle to move off the island’.

Mr Baker said that it had been a 'moment of madness' and his client could not remember why he had given a false name or date of birth.

However, he said that he was not certain of being able to stay at the cottage so had given a different address.

He was unable to stay with family in the island as he was self-isolating, a requirement for all arrivals to the island.

The High Bailiff remanded Powell in custody until sentencing on April 23.

Powell, who has previously been linked to addresses in Glen Auldyn and also Silves in the Algarve, was the driving force behind the Mannifest music festival that ran from 2009 to 2010.