A man who drove on closed roads during TT and ’ranted and raved’ at marshals while holding an axe has been handed a suspended sentence.

Kristopher Robert Goldie, of Poortown, Peel, admitted offences of provoking behaviour and having a vehicle on closed roads in relation to the incident at Laurel Bank, St John’s on Mad Sunday.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes sentenced the 27-year-old, who was said to have mental health issues, to 12 weeks’ custody for each offence, to run concurrently, but suspended for two years.

Mrs Hughes cited grounds to suspend the sentence as being that Goldie had spent nine days on remand after his arrest, a doctor’s report highlighting the negative effect custody would have on his mental health and that he would be at significant risk of self-harm in prison.

Letters of apology to police and marshals were referenced as evidence of remorse.

We previously reported that Goldie’s vehicle was stopped on Mad Sunday at Ballig Bridge by marshals who told him the roads were closed. He performed a three-point-turn and headed back towards Glen Helen.

He waded through a river to get back to his camper van.

Marshals spoke to him in a field opposite Laurel Bank cottage where he was living in the van. He was described as ’ranting and raving’ and holding a small hatchet. Goldie locked himself in his van which police forced entry to. Officers used Pava spray and handcuffs to restrain him and said he was ’highly agitated’.

In interview, Goldie denied being told to get off the course and said marshals had come towards him aggressively.

One marshal said that, while initially being nervous, he had not felt under threat from the hatchet as he had realised Goldie was not well and needed professional help.

Advocate Jane Gray said: ’The marshal stated Mr Goldie didn’t raise the hatchet from his side at any point.

’He is a young man with a long history of poor mental health. When he went back to his lodgings he had to wade through the river and described himself as quite frightened. The water was fast flowing and he had to hang onto branches. He had lost his medication walking through the river and by the time he got to the camper van was in a highly agitated state.

’He said he didn’t intend to hurt anybody and just wanted to be left alone.’

Mrs Hughes ordered Goldie to pay £125 prosecution costs.