A Port St Mary man has been fined £400 after admitting being drunk and disorderly.
Eoghan Thewlis interfered as police officers tried to arrest his friend, then headbutted a wall in anger.
Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court how the incident started while police were arresting a friend of Thewlis at Station Road in Port Erin on August 26 at 11.05pm.
Thewlis was said to have started grabbing his friend’s arm and head, attempting to take hold of him while officers were trying to make the arrest.
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Thewlis was described as slurring his words, smelling of alcohol, and having glazed eyes.
He was warned several times to stay away and stop interfering, but responded by swearing and telling police: ’I’m sorry but I’m not leaving him.’
Thewlis was then said to have challenged a group of people who were nearby, swearing and telling them: ’You’re lucky the feds are here.’
The 20-year-old, who lives at Fistard Road, eventually walked off but made loud roaring noises as he went.
He was said to have become ’hysterical’ and headbutted a wall, causing a gash to his head.
Police followed him to the Haven pub car park and he was subsequently arrested.
He told officers: ’I’m going to prison cos of this. I’m on bail. I don’t want this, I want to go home.’
Defence advocate Laurence Vaughan-Williams said: ’There is no punishment you can hand down today that will have such an effect on Mr Thewlis as the fear he has had that he will go to prison.’
The advocate referred to a probation report which described Thewlis as a ’young man who has poor consequential thinking’.
Thewlis was said to have been referred to Motiv8 by probation.
’He has great remorse and feels he has let his mother and father down,’ said Mr Vaughan-Williams.
’This has been a salutary wake up call.’
Magistrates chair Ken Faragher told Thewlis: ’Had you listened to police officers in the first place you wouldn’t be here now.’
He was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs, which he will pay, along with the fine, at a rate of £10 per week, deducted from benefits.