A man who had to be restrained using Pava spray and then damaged a police van has been fined.

James Marcus Doherty, whose address was given as the Isle of Man prison, has already been recalled to prison as he had been released on licence.

The 36-year-old man has been fined £400 after admitting resisting arrest and damaging a police van.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that Doherty was spoken to by police on September 14 at Kerroo Glass in Ramsey after reports of a disturbance.

As he was being taken to a police van he dug in his heels and locked his legs, pushing against police.

He was subsequently restrained using Pava spray and put in the van.

But once in the van Doherty kicked out at the cage, causing £96 worth of damage.

A probation report said that Doherty had been released early from a sentence in September 2018 but had now been recalled.

Damage

The report said that sentencing options were quite restricted as Doherty was already in prison.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood said: ’Clearly there are a lack of sentencing options. The criminal damage value is £96.

’In my submission not the highest request for compensation that this court will have dealt with.’

Mr Wood said Doherty had been frustrated because on a previous occasion he had been recalled to prison and spent seven weeks there only for the charge to be dropped.

’He wasted seven weeks of his life on remand for an offence that was pulled,’ said the advocate.

’The police have gone to arrest him and he has seen history repeating itself.

’Perhaps we can have some sympathy given he’d spent seven weeks on remand for an offence that wasn’t proceeded with.

’It’s no defence but perhaps it allows an insight into how he has responded.’