Christopher McEvoy, aged 57, of James Street, Douglas, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer and being found drunk in a public place.

The offences are alleged to have been committed on February 7 and involve Mr McEvoy being drunk on the quayside near Barbary Coast in Douglas, then grabbing an officer’s privates and refusing to let go at police headquarters.

Mr McEvoy asked for the case to be committed to the Court of General Gaol Delivery so that a jury could hear it.

His defence advocate Paul Rodgers said that his client was making the application on the basis that there was extensive police involvement in the incident and he felt it more appropriate for a jury to hear the case than a single judge.

However, High Bailiff Jayne Hughes declined the application, saying that it would be better dealt with in summary court, particularly bearing in mind that a likely trial date at the higher court would be early 2023.

A pre-trial review will be held in summary court on April 5.

Bail was granted to Mr McEvoy in the sum of £500 with a condition to live at his home address.