A 66-year-old Ramsey man will face a trial in summary court after being accused of having a dog in a prohibited area.

Courtenay Adam Heading refused to enter a plea to the allegation, so a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

The allegation relates to an incident on January 23, and was said to relate to Mr Heading allegedly having a dog on South Beach in Ramsey, north of the lifeboat slipway, which is a prohibited area.

The case is being prosecuted on behalf of Ramsey Commissioners.

Appearing before magistrates, Mr Heading opted to represent himself in court and told magistrates that he was ‘Courtenay Adam Lawrence’, but preferred to just be known as ‘Courtenay’.

When asked to enter a plea to the allegation, he said: ‘I can’t enter a plea because there’s no subject matter jurisdiction.’

He then asked if documents he said he had handed in had been received, and added: ‘Are you going to try to hide justice?’

Mr Heading, who lives at Richmond Road, said that he wanted a trial by jury under the 1736 Act, but was told he didn’t have the right to a trial by jury.

He claimed he was appearing ‘under duress’, ‘coercion’, and ‘by special appearance’, and said: ‘Are you denying me a trial under the 1736 act?’

He then turned his attention to the press, saying: ‘I would not report this in the media if I were you. Be cautious.’

Magistrates set a trial date for September 25 and Mr Heading said: ‘I do not stand under you.’

He was initially going to be released without bail being deemed necessary, but magistrates then decided to set bail in the sum of £500 due to Mr Heading’s contempt of the court.