A ferry foot passenger who tried to disembark from the vehicle deck has been fined £500.

Ian Kelly, from Foxdale, was warned by staff three times, but told them to ‘f*** off’.

The 48-year-old pleaded guilty to an offence of unauthorised entry to a restricted harbour zone.

He was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Annie Bannister told the court that Kelly was disembarking the Ben-My-Chree, in Douglas, on October 1, as a foot passenger.

However, he walked down a stairwell, with a friend, towards the vehicle deck.

They approached the stern door, which leads onto the Linkspan ramp, but is an unauthorised area for foot passengers.

They were warned it was an unauthorised area, and Kelly’s friend left.

However, Kelly ignored the staff member and continued to walk towards the ramp.

He was warned three times in total, but said: ‘F*** off,’ and walked up the ramp.

Port police arrested him.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode said the defendant’s last conviction was in 2007.

The advocate said his client worked as a haulier, transporting cattle.

He said Kelly, of Archallagan Terrace, claimed he’d done the same thing before without issues.

‘He accepts he’d had a drink, which perhaps clouded his judgement,’ said Mr Kermode.

‘He should have followed the staff instructions.’

The advocate went on to say Kelly had spent around 12 hours at the police station as a result of the incident.

Deputy High Bailiff Ms Braidwood said: ‘This seems to be a pretty silly thing to end up in court for.

‘I accept perhaps having a drink has clouded your thinking.

‘Whether you had done it hundreds of times before, you were told not to do it.

‘You clearly weren’t working and didn’t have your wagon with you.’

Kelly will pay £100 per month.