A visitor who bit a bouncer after being denied access to a Douglas pub has been fined £900.

James Strudwick, aged 38, from Rochdale in Greater Manchester, also threw a punch at the doorman on April 29.

At Douglas Courthouse on Tuesday Strudwick pleaded guilty to common assault and displaying disorderly behaviour on licensed premises.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the court that Strudwick had approached Jaks Bar and Steakhouse on Loch Promenade just before 9pm.

staggering

Door staff could see him staggering and talking to himself and refused entry believing him to be intoxicated.

Strudwick was said to take offence to this decision and threw the punch before running off - he was restrained but lashed out again biting the man on the finger and drawing blood.

He was arrested and during police interview told officers he believed he’d been provoked - the court heard he could produce no evidence to support this.

Strudwick’s advocate Paul Glover told the court his client was a trainee electrician who was working on a shop-fitting project on the island and was due to leave on Monday (May 7).

He said Strudwick had been out with his work colleagues adding: ’I submit this will be the first and last time Mr Strudwick comes before this court or any other court.’

Magistrates fined Strudwick £400 for the common assault offence and £400 for the disorderly behaviour on licensed premises offence.

They also ordered him to pay £125 in prosecution costs.

Addressing Strudwick, the chairman of the magistrates David Craine told him: ’Less than 10 days after arriving on the Isle of Man you go out and assault a member of doorstaff.

’It’s not the sort of behaviour we want on the Isle of Man - you’re a guest here and this is not the behaviour which will be tolerated."

In response Strudwick, who was in tears in the dock, told him: ’I won’t drink again.’