A man who kicked open his neighbour’s door in the early hours has been fined £800 and ordered to pay £400 compensation.

Neal Antony Clague, aged 50, of Strand Street, Douglas, admitted provoking behaviour and property damage.

Magistrates also ordered him to pay £125 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court that the complainant in the case was living above Clague at the time in Duke Street, Douglas, and called the police on April 16 at 2.10am.

He said that Clague was hitting the front door of his flat with a fire extinguisher and shouting: ’Come outside, I’m going to kill you.’

Clague denied using the fire extinguisher or making the threat.

He forced entry into the flat and the man, who was with his partner, then barricaded himself in another room.

He said that Clague then started trying to break through that door with the fire extinguisher but was unable to.

When police arrived they found the fire extinguisher on the floor outside the door.

Officers went to Clague’s flat but he refused to open his door which prompted police to force it open.

During a police interview Clague handed in a prepared statement accepting that he had caused the damage but denying saying he was going to kill the man or using the fire extinguisher.

Ms Cubbon said that fragments from the fire extinguisher were found in the door.

The damage caused was said to have amounted to £668, being £130 for the fire extinguisher and £538 for the door.

Defence advocate Paul Glover said: ’Mr Clague maintains he didn’t use the fire extinguisher.

’He says the damage was caused by kicking. He admits saying "come outside" and that there may have been expletives but not that he said "I’m going to kill you".’

Mr Glover went on to say that there had been aggravation between the pair for some time and the ’red mist’ had descended.

The advocate disputed the compensation amount saying that there had not been major repairs to the door.

He said: ’That’s an outrageous sum for a bit of painting and maintenance. If it cost that much to paint a door, we’re all in the wrong trade.’

Magistrates fined Clague £300 for the property damage and £500 for the provoking behaviour, with £400 awarded in compensation.

Magistrates chair Lisa Horton told him: ’We will accept your version of events, however, this must have been a frightening experience for someone with you trying to batter down their door at 2am.’

He will pay the amounts at a rate of £50 per week.