A 30-year-old man has admitted assaulting a 14-year-old on Fenella Beach in Peel.
Billy Sumner is accused of holding the boy’s head under water in a rock pool for around eight seconds, but denies that part of the prosecution case.
A Newton hearing, to settle the disputed facts, will now be held, with a pre-hearing review scheduled for September 15.
Sumner had previously been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, but that charge was replaced with one of common assault, which he admitted.
He had also previously denied allegations of theft, a common assault at Tromode House, and provoking behaviour, but has changed his plea to guilty to those charges.
Other charges, of possessing a bladed article and resisting arrest, were dismissed after the prosecution agreed to offer no evidence in light of the other guilty pleas.
Prosecuting advocate Harry Bellis told the court that Sumner’s first offence was on May 10.
Staff at Tesco at Victoria Road in Douglas refused to sell him alcohol, as they said he was intoxicated.
Sumner was said to have called a staff member an ‘idiot’, then said: ‘Why’s your head tilted like that? You’re gay aren't you. You’re going to hell. You’re going to have a great time in hell.’
Twenty minutes later he was seen on CCTV stealing a two-litre bottle of cider from the Co-op on Woodbourne Road.
On June 1, a staff member at Tromode House said they saw Sumner entering another resident’s car, then taking a thermos flask, said to contain alcohol.
They took it from him, but Sumner then tried to punch the man, who stepped back, so that only Sumner’s fingers made contact.
On July 18, at 7.55pm, police received multiple 999 calls from witnesses at Fenella Beach in Peel.
A 14-year-old male was said to have approached Sumner and asked him to apologise to a friend, he claimed Sumner had insulted.
They argued and then exchanged punches.
Sumner was said to have got the boy on the ground in a rock pool, where he held his head under the water for around eight seconds.
After being arrested, Sumner said he’d been at the beach with friends when a group of teenagers had been obnoxious.
He said they'd accused him of looking down girls’ tops, then one youth had punched him.
Sumner, currently residing at Waverley House in Ramsey, claimed he had moved the boy away from rocks to a safer position, and had only punched him in self-defence, but denied holding his head under the water.
The defendant was represented by advocate Ian Kermode who entered a basis of plea for his client, disputing some of the facts.
Mr Bellis said that other disputed facts would make no difference to sentencing, but the allegation of holding the boy’s head under water would make a significant difference.
Mr Kermode said that his client’s stance was that they both fell into the water and were struggling in the rock pool but said an addendum to the basis of plea could be discussed.
Bail continues.