A 33-year-old unemployed man has been put on probation after an altercation with a taxi driver.
David William Atkinson, of Tromode House, Ballafletcher Road, Douglas, admitted offences of being drunk and disorderly and attempting to breach a licensing ban.
High Bailiff Jayne Hughes sentenced him to 12 months’ probation, to run concurrently on each offence.
Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that Atkinson was banned from buying alcohol in January 2019 for two years.
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Despite this, on July 5 he tried to buy a bottle of Buckfast wine at Newbys in Glen Falcon Road in Douglas.
He was recognised from the banning book and refused the sale.
On July 19, at 4.40am, police were called to Market Street in Douglas after a disturbance reported by a taxi driver.
The driver said that Atkinson had tried to get into his car then squared up to him when he refused to let him in because he was drunk.
Police found Atkinson near the Villa Marina and he was arrested.
When interviewed he told police he had been drinking beer and spirits in a hotel room.
He said his memory was ’blurry’ but he denied that he had bought any alcohol.
A probation report said that Atkinson has two children and is currently signed off work sick.
He told probation he had been provided with alcohol by friends in the hotel room so he believed he was allowed to consume it.
Atkinson said that he had not drunk since the incidents as he recognised that alcohol negatively affected him.
The court heard that he was currently subject to a suspended sentence and a community service order.
Atkinson was also said to be currently paying financial penalties until the year 2026, at a rate of £20 per week, deducted from his benefits and that £20 per week is the maximum which the court can deduct.
Defence advocate David Clegg said that probation would help prevent Atkinson from reoffending and was a better option than adding a financial penalty.
High Bailiff Mrs Hughes warned Atkinson: ’You will be going to prison very soon if you don’t do something to curb your offending.’