A man who cut off an electronic tagging device after he was released from prison early was this week sent back to prison for a month.

Christopher Christian admitted an offence of property damage as well as breaching the terms of his early release licence.

Magistrates sentenced the 35 year old to 14 days in jail for damaging the tag and one month for the breach of licence to run concurrently.

Last week we reported that Christian had been released on licence on July 14 after serving nine months of a 22-month sentence imposed in October 2019.

As part of his early release agreement he was required to wear the tracker device, said to cost £3,500, around his ankle.

Police were at Christian’s Lord Street, Douglas, address at around midnight on August 2 dealing with a separate matter and found the tag but Christian was not there.

The following day he presented himself at police headquarters and when interviewed handed in a prepared statement saying that he had been out celebrating his mother’s birthday but then had issues with her when they arrived home.

He said he had decided to stay at his girlfriend’s house and cut the tag off.

Defence advocate Deborah Myerscough handed in a letter to magistrates from Christian.

Ms Myerscough said: ’We would ask the court to take into account that, despite Mr Christian’s long record, the fact that he made the call and chose to surrender is progress for somebody like him.’

The advocate said that Christian is currently subject to stringent conditions as part of his early release such as drug testing and a curfew.

’He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and co-operated with the police,’ said Ms Myerscough.

’He does have a difficult past but I’m asking you to consider giving him one last chance.’

However, chair of the magistrates Gill Eaton told Christian: ’You were given a chance to prove yourself.’