A man who tried to film an arrest and ended up being arrested himself has been sentenced to community service.

Steven Adam England called police ’bullies’ and demanded to know why the arrest was taking place as he walked by in Strand Street.

England, who lives at Keppel Road, Douglas, was eventually restrained using Pava spray after struggling with officers.

In court, the 28-year-old admitted offences of being drunk and disorderly and resisting arrest.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that police were called to 1886 bar in Regent Street on September 2 at 11.25pm after a report of a disturbance.

Police found the person involved outside WH Smith and were arresting them when England walked past.

England started shouting and filming the arrest on his phone.

He was said to be slurring his words and unsteady on his feet, and was warned by police to move on.

However, England continued to interfere, shouting ’bullies’ and demanding to know why the person was being arrested.

He eventually walked off but was then arrested himself, initially for being drunk and disorderly.

However, England then lashed out and tried to escape as he acted aggressively, but was restrained against a police van.

He continued to resist arrest and was subsequently Pava sprayed by police.

A probation report said that England had been struggling for the past 18 months following a bereavement, and had been drinking too much as a way of coping.

drUNK

He said on the night of the incident he had been out with his partner and had drunk too much.

England said that the incident had been a ’wake-up call’ and he was starting a new job shortly with a scaffolding company

The court heard that England was fined £700 in April 2020 for failing to comply with emergency powers but, prior to that, his last conviction was in 2014.

Defence advocate David Clegg said: ’Mr England is lightly convicted. He has said to me "I’m just going to stay out of Douglas at night".

’He accepts he was a complete pain on the evening and the police have a job to do.’

Deputy High Bailiff James Brooks sentenced England to 50 hours’ community service for each offence, to run concurrently.

Mr Brooks told him: ’You involved yourself in somebody else’s business. You could have simply walked on.’

England was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.