An Onchan couple have appeared in court after a row with a neighbour.

James William Gelling, aged 43, of Nursery Avenue, admitted provoking behaviour and was fined £350 by magistrates.

Alexis Storm Gelling, aged 37, of the same address, had a charge of provoking behaviour against her dismissed after she agreed to be bound over to keep the peace for 12 months.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that Mrs Gelling had become involved in a row with the neighbour on July 20, which resulted in her and the woman becoming involved in a struggle, pushing and shoving each other.

James Gelling was said to have arrived and pulled the woman off his wife by her hair.

Mr Swain said that the action had gone a little beyond self-defence and described the incident as a ’generally unpleasant disturbance in public’.

The other woman involved in the incident received a binding order in December last year.

Defence advocate David Reynolds, representing James Gelling, said: ’This was a neighbour dispute. They had all been friends prior to this but the relationship deteriorated and there was an altercation on the day.

’Mr Gelling’s intent was to prevent harm between the parties. He is not somebody who is going to be before the courts again.’

Magistrates ordered the fine to be deducted from benefits.