A plasterer who punched a glass panel in a door at Jaks has been handed a suspended sentence.

Desmond Fitzgerald caused £960 worth of damage to the toughened safety glass after he was locked out of the pub by the bar manager.

This came after he had been escorted from the bar by security staff.

He pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour on licensed premises and property damage.

Deputy High Bailiff James Brooks sentenced the 37-year-old to 20 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months and also fined him £500.

banned

He must also pay £960 compensation to Jaks and was banned from entering licensed premises, and buying or being sold alcohol for 12 months.

We previously reported that Fitzgerald was in Jaks on December 21 at 4.45pm.

Staff refused to serve him any more alcohol but Fitzgerald said: ‘We’ll see about that.’

He then tried to grab a pint which was on the bar but staff moved it away from him and he was asked to leave.

Fitzgerald, who lives at Clifton Terrace in Douglas, then swore and abused them verbally.

He was escorted out by bouncers as he continued swearing.

Once outside, Fitzgerald initially walked off but when he saw the bar manager come out, he ran back towards the pub.

The manager locked him out but he then punched the glass in the door, causing a large crack.

Security staff went outside and detained him until police arrived.

During a police interview Fitzgerald admitted that he was ‘extremely intoxicated’ and said he didn’t remember the incident, but added that it didn’t sound like him.

Defence advocate Paul Glover asked the court to suspend any sentence, saying that grounds to suspend were his client’s guilty plea, his co-operation with probation, and his honesty in saying he had no memory of the incident but accepting the facts.

‘He is embarrassed and ashamed and incredibly apologetic,’ said the advocate.

issues

Mr Glover said that his client would lose his job if he went into custody and referred to personal issues highlighted in the probation report which he said he did not want to go into in open court.

The report assessed Fitzgerald as a low risk of reoffending and a medium risk of harm to others.

‘He accepts alcohol has been the key factor in this offence,’ said Mr Glover.

‘Mr Fitzgerald informs me it has been a stark wake up call and he hasn’t drunk alcohol since.

‘If he addresses his alcohol consumption, the risk of harm will be reduced further.’

The court heard that Fitzgerald had received numerous custodial sentences in the UK before coming to the island to begin a ‘new life’.

Deputy High Bailiff Mr Brooks told Fitzgerald: ‘Your behaviour in Jaks frankly was appalling.

‘This was early in the day as well. There could well have been children and families in there.

‘I have looked at your record from the UK and sincerely hope you haven’t decided to bring that behaviour here with you.’

He will pay the fine, compensation and prosecution costs at a rate of £50 per month.