Two men who admitted affray have been handed suspended sentences.

The Court of General Gaol Delivery heard that around 10.50pm on the evening of May 28 this year, police received multiple 999 calls about a disturbance at a property on Gladstone Avenue, Ramsey.

Prosecutor Hazel Carroon said there were reports of shouts and glass being smashed, with the fight spilling out onto the street.

Police arrived at the scene to be told by neighbours that two men had been standing outside shouting at each other and they had been told to stop as children in the area were frightened.

Witnesses reported seeing the men fighting, with one running out the house with his fist in the air and at one point holding the other in a headlock.

Paul Edward Mark Ewart, 44, of Bemahague Avenue, Onchan, and Paul Anthony McCormick, 37, of Drury Terrace, Douglas, both admitted affray.

Mr McCormick was in breach of a suspended sentence while Mr Ewart had previous convictions for disorderly behaviour.

Ms Carroon told the court that Mr McCormick had been invited to attend the address in Gladstone Avenue where he had met Mr Ewart.

Mr Ewart was said to have argued with another man, while McCormick and others intervened. There were children upstairs in the house and others in a neighbouring property.

Mr Ewart’s advocate Jane Gray said her client ‘truly felt remorseful for his actions’.

Deemster Graeme Cook said: ‘It seems something occurred which should not have occurred.’

He said the offence was so serious that it passed the custody threshold but there were good reasons to suspend.

The Deemster said that drink was an aggravating factor as was the fact that children were present.

He handed eight-month sentences to both men, suspended for two years with two years’ supervision.

The two defendants were also each ordered to pay prosecution costs of £125.