Some £300 worth of damage was caused to Pulrose golf course and football pitch after a man rode a motorbike over them.

Caleb John Langton (aka McBurnie), of Springfield Road, Douglas, admitted leaving tyre marks and skid marks on the grass, as well as having no vehicle insurance and a charge of possessing cannabis.

The 23-year-old was sentenced to a 12-month probation order when he appeared before magistrates last week.

Prosecutor Roger Kane told the court that police were called to Pulrose golf club on March 17 at 7.10pm after a report of a motorbike being ridden on the course.

When officers arrived they couldn’t locate the rider but later, as they were driving along New Castletown Road, they saw lights on Pulrose football pitch. When they went to the pitch, officers saw Langton on a bike but he then turned and rode onto the golf course, switching his lights off.

However, Langton then got the bike stuck in mud and was subsequently arrested.

Mud

Police found four wraps of cannabis on him valued at £112.

When interviewed, he admitted the drug was his for personal use.

He was also not insured to ride the bike which did not belong to him.

A probation report said that Langton had since given up using illicit drugs as he said he was trying to get his life back together.

Langton said that he would be writing a letter of apology to the golf club.

He was said to have just started a placement at University College Isle of Man studying a construction multi-skills course and was working as a labourer.

Defence advocate James Peterson said that this was his client’s first drug-related offence.

’He started his job yesterday working three days a week and wants to get an apprenticeship,’ said the advocate.

’He doesn’t want to be constantly before the court.’

Magistrates ordered Langton to pay £300 compensation and £125 prosecution costs.

His licence was also endorsed with four penalty points.