A 23-year-old Port St Mary man has been fined £400 for being drunk and disorderly.

Juan James Qualtrough refused to leave the Whitehouse in Peel then told police: ’I will drop you like a vegetable.’

After pleading guilty to the offence magistrates also ordered him to pay £125 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court that police were called to the Whitehouse on September 19 at 12.03am after a report of a man refusing to leave.

Qualtrough, who lives at Fistard Road, was said to have been acting aggressively and making threats to customers.

Police arrived and he was subsequently arrested after making the vegetable comment.

Qualtrough continued to be unco-operative and had to be forcibly taken to cells.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said that his client only had one previous conviction, for failing to provide a sample of breath.

Mr Rodgers asked for credit to be given for Qualtrough’s guilty plea at the first opportunity.

’The comment he made was in drink,’ said the advocate.

’He needs to reflect on the amount he drinks. He had been out on a do for someone going to university and accepted he drank too much.’

The advocate went on to say that his client was a butcher by trade but was currently working at a fish factory.

Magistrates ordered Qualtrough to pay the fine and costs at a rate of £100 per week.