Two Ramsey men who helped themselves to a rucksack containing an iPhone and charger have been fined £500 each.

Craig Thomas Sheppard, aged 34, and 43-year-old Gareth Roy Bouskill, both admitted theft and were also ordered to each pay £50 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Harry Bellis told the court that the complainant got off the ferry arriving from Liverpool at the Sea Terminal on August 11 last year.

He got into a taxi, but accidentally left his rucksack on top of a bin next to it.

Sheppard and Bouskill got off the same ferry and then came across the bag.

They put it into a carrier bag and left, but were later identified via CCTV footage.

When interviewed, Bouskill, who lives at Queen’s Pier Road, handed the iPhone and charger to the police.

He said that he'd been intoxicated, and apologised, saying he would pay any compensation.

Sheppard, of Upper Ballacrye, told police they’d got on the bus to Ramsey after finding the bag, but claimed they’d intended to give back the items, then forgot.

Sheppard said he’d been drinking heavily and his recollection was a bit blurry.

Duty advocate John Wright represented both defendants in court, saying that they had entered guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity.

Mr Wright said the two men had been at a festival in England and had drunk a lot.

He said they’d seen the bag, and taken it to be abandoned, only looking inside it when they were on the bus.

Mr Wright said that it had been theft by finding.

Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood told the duo: ‘It would have been obvious to you the moment you opened the bag, it hadn’t been abandoned.’

Bouskill will pay at a rate of £200 per month, while Sheppard will pay £100 per week.