A 20-year-old man has been put on probation after a trial found him guilty of obstructing police and resisting arrest.

Jake Mortimer, of Churchtown, Lezayre, stood in front of a police van and struggled with officers after a small crowd gathered in Castletown during another man’s arrest.

Mortimer was also found guilty of threatening behaviour.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court how the incident took place on February 22 in Barrack Square in Castletown.

Mortimer and friends were at the Secret Pizza Co in the square when police arrived to deal with another man.

The man was escorted out of the pizza parlour but then broke free and ran off. Police caught and detained him but as they were taking him to their van a small crowd had gathered with some people said to be pushing and jostling the officers and filming on their phones.

Mortimer was not one of those people but he followed the crowd and was then said to have stood in front of the van and raised his middle finger to police as he shouted abuse.

Mortimer was arrested but then struggled with police as they tried to detain him.

Defence advocate Louise Cooil said: ’Mr Mortimer stood in front of a van that was going to be moved forward about a metre. It is not the worst obtruct police matter. It is at the lower end of that type of offence. Had the resist not occurred the other two offences may not have come before the courts.

’There was an incident which began before Mr Mortimer was involved. He wasn’t part of the group jostling, shoving and recording. He was on the periphery waiting for friends but unfortunately the matter escalated.’

Ms Cooil went on to refer to a doctor’s report which had diagnosed Mortimer with Aspergers.

’That does go some way to explain how he might not have been aware how to de-escalate his role in the incident,’ said the advocate. ’This was a very unfortunate incident which has gotten out of control.’

Magistrates sentenced Mortimer to 18 months’ probation for each of the three offences, to run concurrently.

He was also ordered to pay £750 costs, which included some of the cost of a trial having taken place, which he will pay at a rate of £10 per week, deducted from benefits.