A 21-year-old Onchan man has been put on probation for 12 months.

John William Kelly, of Lhon Vane Close, admitted possession of cannabis and diazepam, as well as being drunk and disorderly.

He was warned about his attire by Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes after turning up for court in shorts.

Mrs Hughes said he would be ’sent back home to dress properly’ if he arrived in court again dressed similarly.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the court how, on July 21, a search of Kelly’s Audi S3 while he was in custody for an unrelated matter found a lump of cannabis and 14 diazepam tablets.

He told police he bought four strips of the prescription tablets for £40 but had taken a lot of them the previous day.

A friend later owned up to owning the cannabis.

On July 25, Kelly’s Audi was seen on Prospect Hill, Douglas, and police reported a strong smell of cannabis as he drove past.

He was found on Christian Road and a search of the vehicle found 3.2 grams of the drug, with a street value of £16.92.

This time Kelly admitted the cannabis was his.

On September 2 at 3am Kelly approached police in Church Street in Douglas complaining that he had been assaulted. He was said to be too intoxicated to explain what had happened but police helped him find his glasses.

He was told to get a taxi home but then became abusive, swearing at police before running off when they tried to arrest him, only to be stopped in Barrack Street.

The court heard that had convictions for possession of drugs in May and July as well as ones for unlawful supply of drugs and possession with intent to supply.

He is due to start community service for a previous offence.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood said: ’It would seem Mr Kelly is a young man who needs to catch a wake-up call.

’He advised the court when he received the community sentence order and advised the police he has a very significant cannabis problem and he wanted help with it.

’He has reduced his cannabis use. But he has been doing it the wrong way, self-medicating with diazepam, replacing a class ’B’ drug with a class ’C’ one.

’There is a case to be made that he really does need some help and guidance.

’Left to his own devices he is not coping well it would seem.’

The court heard that prior to May, Kelly had not been before the court. Mrs Hughes told Kelly: ’There is clearly something going on that has caused you to appear before the courts so frequently.’

Kelly was sentenced to 12 months probation for each of the three offences, to run concurrently.

He was also banned from entering licensed premises, and buying or being sold alcohol for four months, and must pay £375 prosecution costs.