A Douglas man has been put on probation and ordered to do community service after admitting a string of offences.

Billy Robert Sumner, aged 23, of Empire Terrace, admitted theft, four driving offences and breaching a licensing ban.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon told the court how Sumner’s first offences occurred on October 31 when he was seen driving in Castletown despite having no vehicle licence or insurance.

He was then seen driving again on November 5 at Market Street in Douglas.

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Police went to his home in Peel, where he was living at the time, and ordered him to produce driving documents within five days but they were never produced.

When interviewed Sumner gave ’no comment’ responses to all questions.

On May 7 police were called to Peacocks in the Strand Shopping Centre, Douglas, after Sumner was said to have stolen a pair of sunglasses.

He was arrested at Markwell House nearby, but told police: ’I can prove they were bought.’

Ms Cubbon said that Sumner had also breached a ban on him entering pubs when he went into the Prospect pub in Douglas on December 29.

Defence advocate Kate Alexander said that her client was already paying fines for the next two years so a financial penalty would not be appropriate.

A probation report said that Sumner was under the influence of alcohol and with a negative peer at the time of the sunglasses theft.

He was said to have returned to Peacocks and apologised.

Ms Alexander asked magistrates to go down the route of a penalty involving supervision so that Sumner could address his current issues.

Magistrates sentenced him to 80 hours of community service and a 12-month probation order.

He was also disqualified from driving for six months for the no insurance offences and ordered to pay £7.50 compensation to Peacocks within a month.