A man dressed as a cowboy, who caused £3,000 worth of damage to Department of Infrastructure vehicles, has been put on probation for a year.

Brendan Robert Christopher Kelly was wearing fancy dress when he went to Chester Street car park and vandalised wing mirrors, windscreen wipers, and windscreens.

He was charged with seven counts of criminal damage but pleaded guilty to one, with the others being taken into account.

Prosecuting advocate Harry Bellis told magistrates that, on May 18, 2025, police were called to Chester Street car park after reports of damaged vehicles, and things being thrown into Market Street.

Officers arrived and found Kelly wearing a cowboy fancy dress.

He was arrested at the scene.

When interviewed, he answered ‘no comment’ to all questions.

Mr Bellis said it had been Department of Infrastructure vehicles which had been damaged and the total value was £3,000.

A probation report said that this was Kelly’s first offence and that he was a carer for his father.

The report said he had struggled with mental health issues.

Kelly, 23, of Lord Street, Douglas, said he’d been at a party drinking, but also had taken prescription medication.

He claimed he had no recollection of what happened in the car park.

He initially denied the offences and it was listed for trial.

Defence advocate Kaitlyn Shimmin said the incident was now 12 months ago, and her client hadn’t been in trouble since.

She said Kelly was seeking assistance and was unlikely to be in court again.

Magistrates told Kelly: ‘The only reason for this behaviour seems to be mixing alcohol with medication, so we hope you’ve taken a lesson from that.

‘Taxpayers money has to go towards repaying this.’

He was ordered to pay £1,500 compensation and £300 prosecution costs, at a rate of £15 per week.