A 51-year-old Douglas man has been put on probation for two years for being drunk and disorderly and possessing a knife.

Ralph John Walker admitted the offences after police arrested him in Regent Street in Douglas on February 11.

Walker, who lives at Derby Road, was already subject to a two-year probation order which was imposed in January for being drunk in a public place and attempting to breach a licensing ban.

Magistrates revoked that order and replaced it with a new two-year one.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court that police were called to Regent Street on February 11 at 5.40pm after a report of someone leaving a taxi without paying.

When they arrived they found Walker, who was described as dishevelled, slurring his words, and having glazed eyes.

He became argumentative, swearing at police.

Despite warnings about his behaviour, Walker continued and was eventually arrested.

As he was taken to a police vehicle he kicked the door.

At police headquarters police found a three-inch knife in his pocket.

During an interview Walker said he had no recollection of how he had the knife and no memory of being arrested due to his intoxication.

A probation report said that Walker was attending meetings weekly and even attended more often than required at times.

The report said that possessing a knife was out of character for Walker and not his usual ’modus operandi’.

The probation officer said that he believed the knife was more likely to have belonged to a third party who was in the taxi with Walker, but had ran off and left him.

The report said that probation services tried to keep Walker away from alcohol but it wasn’t possible to stop other people supplying it to him.

He was said to be left with £36 per week to live on after paying outstanding fines and rent.

Magistrates made no order for prosecution costs.