A man who broke the wing mirror on a police van has been given an absolute discharge due to the time it took to take him to court.

But Harvey Neale was ordered to pay £193.99 for damage he caused after he pleaded guilty to property damage.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that 25-year-old Neale was at the Haven pub in Station Road in Port Erin on February 20 last year at 11.10pm.

Police parked their van outside and went into the bar on a routine visit.

At 11.15pm Neale and a friend left and walked around the van. Neale then struck the mirror, causing it to smash. He then left the scene.

A social media appeal was launched with CCTV images and Neale contacted the police himself to admit it was him. On May 20 he attended a voluntary interview and handed in a prepared statement in which he admitted causing the damage.

Neale, who lives at Main Road, Castletown, told police he had no memory of the incident but offered to pay for the damage.

The court heard that he has no previous convictions.

Defence advocate Peter Russell handed in a letter of reference for his client and said: ‘It will come as no surprise that this was carried out in drink, though that doesn’t excuse it.

‘The offence was committed more than a year ago and we haven’t been able to get a satisfactory answer as to why it has taken so long.

‘To have this hanging over him all this time, human nature dictates he’s been hoping nothing was going to happen. It has caused Mr Neale anxiety and distress.

‘As soon as the police went to social media he contacted them the same day and said “that’s me”.

‘It then took a couple of months until he was interviewed.’

Mr Russell went on to ask the court to treat the incident as a ‘blip’ and said that Neale was unlikely to be before the court again.

Prosecutor Ms Carroon said that there was no explanation on file as to why it had taken so long for the incident to be brought to court.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that, bearing in mind the time it had taken to come to court, she was prepared to deal with the offence by way of an absolute discharge.

She told Neale: ‘If you hadn’t come forward, it’s quite likely the offence would have remained unsolved.

‘The delay by the police doesn’t excuse your behaviour, but ironically the delay has perhaps helped you.’

Neale was given three months to pay the compensation.

No order for prosecution costs was made.