A 50-year-old offender has been fined £600 for obstructing police.

Jason Farley Kelch, of Lord Street, Douglas, admitted the offence, which replaced a previous one of assaulting a police officer.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that police were called to Hills House in Lord Street on December 20 at 9.05pm after a report of someone trying to force entry into the building.

Police spoke to residents in the building, including Kelch.

He was said to have become verbally aggressive and started swearing at police, before squaring up to one officer, who pushed him away.

Kelch landed on the sofa but then got up and was said to have attempted to punch the officer but missed.

He was subsequently restrained and taken to police headquarters.

When interviewed he said: ’I don’t even remember any of it.’

Defence advocate Peter Taylor said that his client’s last offence was an assault in 2019 but before that he had not offended since 2010.

’He had been out for pre-Christmas drinks,’ said Mr Taylor. ’Police knocked on his door. They had been to lots of other flats. Police asked could they enter and he let them in and sat on the sofa. It all seemed calm.

’Then suddenly five police officers were in the flat and one started asking questions aggressively, we would put forward. We would say the police could have handled their side of the incident better.

’Mr Kelch accepts he started shouting at him to leave the property. He was pointing but he had a cast on his hand so there was no way he was going to punch anyone.’

’He is very ashamed of how he responded and tells me he hasn’t drunk since that day. Nobody was injured and he ended up with a night in the cells.’

Magistrates ordered Kelch to pay the fine and £125 costs at a rate of £100 per month.