A man who got into a scuffle with a workmate on a team-building night out has been sentenced to 80 hours community service.

James Michael Roney, of Laburnum Avenue, Pulrose, admitted disorderly behaviour on licensed premises after an all-day drinking session.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes also banned him from entering licensed premises and purchasing or being sold alcohol for three months.

Prosecuting advocate James Robinson told the court how Roney, who is 41, was sat in the front bar at the Old Market Inn in Douglas on August 30 at 8.05pm with a group of people.

CCTV footage showed Roney get in the face of one of the other men and he was said to have grabbed him by the throat, though he denied this, claiming he had pushed him in the face.

He was then said to have stood up and grabbed the man again with other customers pulling him away.

When police arrived Roney was still outside in a large group and was told to go home by officers.

After police viewed the CCTV footage he was charged with disorderly behaviour on licensed premises and was interviewed on a voluntary basis on September 6.

Roney told police he could not remember the incident due to his intoxication. When shown the footage he said that it was just banter but the man must have said something which caused him to lose his temper. He told police that they were colleagues and friends so he did not know why he had behaved in that way.

A probation report said that Roney was a scaffolder and that the group had been out drinking since midday on a team building exercise. Roney told probation that there were only three of them left by 8pm and that he and the man were good friends who still worked together.

The report recommended a sentence of community service.Defence advocate James Peterson agreed with the recommendation.

Mrs Hughes told Roney that the offence was aggravated by the fact that he has a previous conviction in 2018 for disorderly behaviour on licensed premises. But she said that she would sentence him on the basis that the incident was perhaps not what it appeared to be to those watching.

He was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.