A man tried to breach an alcohol ban by wearing a disguise to buy booze from Tesco, a court has heard.

Jonathan Richard Fletcher, of Mona Street, Douglas, donned a Russian style hat and glasses and succeeded in getting two bottles of cider.

It was when he then went back to buy another two bottles that he was recognised by staff.

Even then, when showed his photo in the banning book 51-year-old Fletcher told staff: ’That’s not me.’

He appeared before magistrates last week.

Fletcher admitted breaching the licensing ban as well as attempting to breach the licensing ban and a third offence of wasting police time committed on a separate occasion.

Licensing ban

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court how Fletcher was handed a six-month licensing ban in July.

However, on November 14 staff at Tesco reported that he had tried to buy two two-litre bottles of cider.

It was then discovered that 15 minutes before that he had successfully bought another two bottles of two litre cider without being recognised.

Fletcher was said to be wearing a Russian style hat and black glasses in an attempt to disguise himself and said: ’That’s not me,’ when shown his picture in the banning book.

CCTV footage showed both incidents.

On November 25 at 6.09am police received a ’999’ call from a Fletcher who said that he wanted a number of items returned which had been seized by police.

He was told not to call the emergency number but then called again three more times.

On the fourth occasion he said that he had a Stanley knife and swore at the operator.

Aggressive

Despite being warned about calling the number he continued to ring and became more aggressive eventually saying he was going to take his own life and the police were to blame for it all.

Police were left with no option but to attend his home but when they did they found Fletcher was asleep in bed.

He admitted wasting police time.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers asked for a probation report to be prepared saying that his client had issues with alcohol and his mental health which probation could help him with.

Magistrates adjourned the case until Thursday, January 30 when sentencing will take place.

Fletcher was granted bail with a condition not to enter licensed premises, and purchase or be sold alcohol.