An offender who was restrained by police using Pava spray and leg restraints has been handed a suspended sentence.

Mark James Whipp admitted resisting arrest and possessing cannabis with intent to supply and was also made the subject of a 12 month suspended sentence supervision order.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that police executed a search warrant at Maple Avenue in Onchan, where Whipp lives, on March 23.

The search of the property found 8.6 grams of cannabis, valued by police at £258, 27 grams, which they valued at £810, and 0.9 grams, valued at £27.

The 27 grams of the drug was split into nine individual wraps and scales were also found with ‘dealer bags’.

On May 3, police again went to the Maple Avenue address, at 5.13am, after a report that Whipp had been asked to leave the property but was refusing to do so.

When officers arrived, the residents told them that Whipp was no longer welcome there and had made threatening remarks.

Whipp tried to shut himself in a bedroom but police gained access and removed him from the property.

No action was taken at this point, but at 6.20pm that same day, police were called back to the property after a report that Whipp had returned.

He was said to have a truncheon with him.

When officers entered the house they found him sitting on a sofa with the truncheon next to him.

He resisted their attempts to remove him, pulling away from police and throwing himself on the floor.

Whipp continued to struggle, kicking out but not making contact with anyone, and he was subsequently restrained using Pava spray and leg restraints before being carried out.

Defence advocate Sara-Jayne Dodge urged magistrates to follow the recommendation of a probation report for supervision.

‘He had no intention of using the truncheon,’ said Ms Dodge.

‘He has taken full responsibility for matters and is ashamed of his behaviour, particularly with the resisting arrest offence.’

Ms Dodge said that Whipp had been going through a difficult period in his life mentioned in the probation report which she would not go into in open court.

Whipp was jailed in 2016 for four and a half years for possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

‘He believes he has turned his life around,’ said Ms Dodge.

‘He is working full-time and has started a gardening company which provides structure and purpose to his life which he hasn’t had before.’

Magistrates sentenced Whipp to nine months in custody, suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.