A man who smashed a window at his father’s house has been jailed for eight weeks.

Michael William Gerrard admitted an offence of property damage but claimed that he could not do community service as he now had no home address.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told the 25-year-old she was therefore only left with the option of custody, a suspended sentence or a conditional discharge, for which she said the offence was too serious.

Gerrard was also banned from buying or being sold alcohol for four months.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that police were called to Willaston Crescent, Douglas, at 4.02am on July 31.

Gerrard’s father was said to have wanted his son removed from the property and by the time police arrived, at 4.08am, he had gone.

However, at 4.19am police were called back to the address after Gerrard’s father said that his son had returned and smashed a window in a door by throwing a brick through it.

Gerrard was later arrested and admitted throwing the brick, saying he was under the influence of drink and drugs at the time.

A probation report said that Gerrard had previously been working for his father as a gardener but now had no source of income.

The report said that Gerrard said he had an alcohol problem, drinking around four cans of beer a day, but sometimes as many as 12 cans, though he added that, in his opinion, he was not alcohol-dependent.

Gerrard told probation he had argued with his father and then returned and smashed the window out of frustration.

He said that he was now sofa-surfing after previously living with his father.

unrealistic

The report said that a financial penalty was unrealistic as Gerrard had no income and that he felt his homeless situation meant that he could not commit to community service.

Defence advocate David Clegg said that his client had made no attempt to minimise the offence and had co-operated with the police.

Mr Clegg also said that, to a degree, Gerrard’s admission that he could not commit to community service was frank, and preferable to someone agreeing to it and then not giving their all.

The advocate said that the brick used was in the garden of the property and Gerrard had picked it up on the ’spur of the moment’.

The court heard that Gerrard has a previous conviction in 2017 for being drunk and disorderly.

High Bailiff Mrs Hughes told Gerrard: ’Your attitude to your offending and assistance leaves the court with little sentencing options.’

He was also ordered to pay £300 compensation for the window, which he must pay by October 2 or face 18 days custody in default.