A serial offender who assaulted a fellow resident in probation accommodation has been jailed.

Alistair John Cowin, care of the prison, admitted common assault and breaching an early release licence.

The 37-year-old had previously denied the offences and a trial was due to be held on February 15 but on Tuesday he changed his pleas to guilty.

Magistrates sentenced him to 22 weeks in custody for the common assault and two weeks for the breach of licence, to run consecutively.

Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court that Cowin was staying at Tromode House in Ballafletcher Road in Douglas after being released from a prison sentence early.

On November 24 police were called to the property after a report of Cowin and another resident ’kicking off’.

When officers arrived Cowin was outside and described as highly intoxicated, slurring his words and unsteady on his feet.

Staff said they had not seen the assault but after CCTV footage was viewed it showed Cowin punching the other man who fell to the ground.

Cowin was then seen kicking him in the stomach and stamping on his head.

When interviewed Cowin made admissions to police.

Ms Braidwood said that Cowin has an extensive criminal record including offences of violence.

Defence advocate Paul Glover said that his client had been in custody since November 23, the equivalent of a five-month sentence.

’There were no logged injuries and Mr Cowin has apologised to the victim,’ said the advocate.

’Regarding the kicks and stamps, he wasn’t wearing shoes at the time so it was not as bad as it could have been.’

Mr Glover went on to ask for credit to be given for his client’s guilty pleas and admitted that the only realistic sentence was an immediate custodial one, but asked that one be passed that allowed Cowin to be time-served.

The advocate also asked that no prosecution costs be imposed as he said his client would be applying for benefits upon his release.

Magistrates’ chair Anita Ardern told Cowin he would be given limited credit for his late guilty pleas and said: ’This was a nasty assault and you have a very poor record of offending.’