A Port St Mary man has appeared in court after he was arrested while clutching cannabis and a set of false teeth.

Simon James Cowle shouted abuse outside a man’s house, picked up a children’s slide, then ran from police until he was rugby tackled to the ground.

The 49-year-old admitted being drunk and disorderly and resisting arrest.

Cowle told probation that as he had reduced his alcohol intake over the last few years his tolerance wasn’t as high as it once was.

High Bailiff James Brooks sentenced him to 50 hours community service and told him: ’For a man of 49 to be shouting abuse, picking up a children’s slide, and be running around Port St Mary with a set of teeth in your hand, I’d say you were quite right to reduce your alcohol intake.’

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court that Cowle was in the area of The Paddocks in Port St Mary on December 11 at 11.30pm.

A man who lived there reported that Cowle was shouting and swearing in the street outside his house.

He said that he opened his window and Cowle shouted: ’You’ve upset my sister. Come outside for a fight.’

Cowle then approached the house and was said to have appeared drunk.

He again called the man outside for a fight so he started recording Cowle on his phone and called the police.

Cowle then picked up a plastic children’s slide from the garden but police arrived and he ran off.

Officers chased him and he was rugby tackled then handcuffed using two sets of cuffs as he struggled and resisted.

Cowle had something concealed in his fist which he refused to open.

Police managed to prise his hand open and found a small amount of cannabis and a set of false teeth.

He was later interviewed at police headquarters and said that he had smoked cannabis at a friend’s house and been walking past The Paddocks.

He admitted shouting but denied making any threats and said he had run away because he had the cannabis.

The court heard that the cannabis possession was dealt with by a referral to the Drug Arrest Referral Scheme (DARS).

Defence advocate Paul Glover said of the resisting arrest: ’Our position is that Mr Cowle’s actions were to prevent the police finding the cannabis. That is what led to the struggle.

’He ran a short distance. No real force had to be used. There were no injuries and Pava spray wasn’t used.

’If he’d let go with his hands he probably wouldn’t be here today. He has got himself into this situation by clenching his fists.’

Mr Glover went on to say that the offence was at the bottom end of the scale.

’A struggle has taken place and Mr Cowle was rugby tackled to the ground and refused to open his hand,’ said the advocate.

In 2017 Cowle was jailed for 12 weeks for disorderly behaviour on licensed premises after brandishing a bar stool during a row with the licensee at the Albert pub in Port St Mary.

A probation report said that Cowle was training to be a stone mason and that he had significantly reduced his alcohol intake over the last few years.

The report said that Cowle was struggling with anxiety and depression at the time of the latest offence after a bereavement.

He described himself as ’five out of 10’ drunk on the night of the incident.

Deputy High Bailiff Mr Brooks also ordered Cowle to pay £125 prosecution costs.