A 36-year-old Douglas man has been put on probation for six months after a row in a shop.

Ian Derek Brown, of Clifton Terrace, was also said to be currently subject to a suspended sentence but magistrates decided not to activate it.

The court heard how, on June 17 at 4.40pm, Brown went into Ali’s Electrical shop in Castle Street in Douglas.

He told the owner he was unhappy with a phone he had bought there and said: ’You sold me this. It hasn’t worked since day one. I’m taking a new one whether you like it or not.’

Brown was then said to have attemped to force entry into a cabinet before leaving the shop.

He was later charged with provoking behaviour and admitted going to the store and that his behaviour would have caused distress to the owner and his wife.

The court heard that Brown has more than 30 pages of previous convictions.

Defence advocate David Reynolds handed in a letter of apology to the court from Brown.

Mr Reynolds said: ’He does have a very lengthy history. In the time he has been under the supervision of his latest sentence there appears to have been a significant improvement regarding violence and anger management. He apologises for his actions. At the time of the incident he tells me he was in a very dark place. He believes he is coming through that tunnel to the light and feels the support from probation has been very beneficial.’

Mr Reynolds went on to say that his client had moved to Dumfries in the last five weeks and had recently started a new job.

’He realises his behaviour will have caused the owners some distress,’ said the advocate.

Magistrates’ chair Gill Eaton said: ’Scaring shop assistants like that is not acceptable.’