A 32-year-old Douglas man has admitted an assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) after a brawl outside 1886 bar.

Caleb James Machonna Stowell was initially charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm, but that charge was withdrawn and replaced with the ABH.

He will be sentenced in summary court on March 31 after a probation report has been completed.

A second man, Billy Robert Sumner, who is 25, pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault in relation to the same incident.

However, Sumner pleaded guilty to a separate charge of provoking behaviour, which replaced a previous one of affray, committed on December 1 in Strand Street in Douglas.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that Stowell and Sumner were previously unknown to each other but were both outside 1886 bar in Regent Street in Douglas on November 27.

Sumner was alleged to have been involved in a verbal argument with a friend of Stowell, with Stowell then intervening.

Sumner is then alleged to have headbutted Stowell which resulted in security staff separating the pair.

Stowell, who lives at Cronk y Berry View, was ushered towards Strand Street while Sumner was moved towards the promenade.

However, while security were dealing with another person, Stowell walked around them and started grappling with Sumner again.

They fell to the ground and Stowell was said to have punched Sumner in the face seven times, causing bruising to his eye and a cut to his face, before walking off.

Mr Kane said that Sumner had declined to make a complaint so evidence was based on CCTV footage.

The prosecutor submitted that the case was suitable to remain in summary court.

Defence advocate Louise Cooil, who represented Stowell, entered a basis of plea for her client and asked for a probation report to be prepared before sentencing.

Sumner, who lives at Empire Terrace, Douglas, was represented by advocate Sara-Jayne Dodge who asked for her client’s sentencing for the provoking behaviour guilty plea to be adjourned until after the outcome of any trial for the common assault charge.

A pre-trial review will be held for the common assault on April 7 in summary court.

Bail was granted for both men.