A Ramsey man has been fined £150 by magistrates after admitting to a charge of being drunk and incapable.

Liam Patrick Hughes, of Seamount Road, was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs after he was arrested drunk on a bus.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how, on July 3, police were called to Lord Street bus station in Douglas after a report of 36-year-old Hughes being drunk.

There was an allegation that he had been abusive to a bus driver after not being allowed on a bus, but no complaint was made.

When police arrived Hughes had left the bus station on another bus heading for Peel.

Officers stopped the bus at Glen Vine and asked Hughes to get off, saying that he was smelling of alcohol.

He was said to be unable to give a coherent reply when asked for his details and was holding on to the bus shelter to help him to stand up.

He was arrested, taken to police headquarters and held until he was sober.

Defence advocate David Reynolds asked for credit to be given to his client for his guilty plea and said: ’There is no evidence put forward involving any incident with the bus driver as this would have been disputed.

’Mr Hughes tells me he had been out for a friend’s birthday and accepts he was under the influence of alcohol. He tells me he didn’t realise he was under the influence to that degree. He was on the way home when arrested and there were no issues between him and the police.

’Due to the incident he spent the night in a police cell. He says he has been unemployed for a number of years due to mental health issues and we would ask that the fine be deducted from benefits.’

Magistrates ordered that the fine be paid at a rate of £10 per week, deducted from Hughes’ benefits, with 14 days prison in default of payment.