A teenager has admitted an offence of affray after punching a man in a street busy with shoppers.

Lewis Jack Moulder Kelly, of North Shore Road, Ramsey, will be sentenced on December 5 after a probation report has been prepared.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the court how police were called to Castle Street and Strand Street in Douglas on July 23 at 4pm.

Nineteen-year-old Kelly was seen on CCTV footage involved in a verbal and physical altercation with two other men.

Kelly was seen arguing with the men who then walked away but Kelly was then seen to punch one of them from behind, hitting him in the side of the head.

This took place during a busy afternoon in the street.

Kelly had fled by the time police arrived and was chased on foot, eventually being caught in Derby Square Lane.

The court heard that Kelly has a number of previous convictions, with one being for an affray in May this year.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood submitted that community service may be an appropriate sentence and that a probation report would assess Kelly for his suitability.

Magistrates ordered that the report consider all sentencing options, including custody.

Bail continues with conditions that Kelly does not contact witnesses, reside at his home address and contact probation.