A man who stole a taxi while he was drunk and urinated on a mattress in a police cell has been sentenced to community service and probation.

Samuel William Gordon took the car while the cabbie was in a hotel collecting luggage but he was then found sitting in it on Douglas promenade.

The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to drink-driving, taking a vehicle without consent, having no insurance, having no driving licence, being drunk and disorderly, and two counts of property damage.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered him to do 100 hours’ unpaid work and put him on probation for 12 months.

He was also disqualified from driving for three years and banned from entering licensed premises, and buying or consuming alcohol in a public place, for six months.

We previously reported that the taxi driver parked his Hyundai Tucson outside the Mannanin Hotel on Broadway at 6.10am on October 23.

He went into the hotel to collect luggage but left the key in the car’s ignition.

When the driver looked out of the hotel window, he saw that his car had disappeared so he ran outside but couldn’t see it anywhere.

Police arrived and found the Tucson stopped near the Empress Hotel with Gordon, who lives at Central Promenade, Douglas, sitting in the driver’s seat.

He was described as smelling of alcohol and slurring his words.

After being arrested and taken to police headquarters he failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 96. The legal limit is 35.

When interviewed, Gordon told police he had been drinking after work and had left a bar at 3.30am.

He claimed that he had no recollection of taking the car but didn’t dispute it.

While on bail for this, on December 12, police were called to Reayrt ny Chrink in Crosby at 5.30am after a report of Gordon and another male causing issues at a property there.

The complainant said that Gordon had been asked to leave but had refused.

Police spoke to him and reported that he was slurring his words and smelling of alcohol.

He then swore repeatedly, despite warnings from officers, and was subsequently arrested. At police headquarters he continued to act aggressively and was put in a cell.

Gordon then started throwing toilet water on the intercom and spitting on it, then urinated on a mattress.

The court heard that Gordon, who lives at Clarence Terrace, has a previous conviction for being drunk and disorderly in December 2019.

Defence advocate Paul Glover referred to a probation report which said that alcohol was a key factor in Gordon’s offending.

’Mr Gordon has no real memory of the October 23 incident. He only remembers waking up in a police cell,’ said the advocate.

Mr Glover said that his client had written a letter of apology to the taxi driver which he hoped could be passed on.

He continued: ’He knows alcohol is the key issue and he only has himself to blame.

’He apologises to police and knows particularly at this time of year they have a lot on their hands.

’He has lost his job as a consequence of the offences. A harsh lesson has been learnt. He hasn’t been able to obtain further employment due to the risk of custody hanging over him. He will be seeking employment immediately if he doesn’t go to custody.’

A probation report assessed Gordon as a medium risk of reoffending but Mr Glover said that this would go down if he addressed his alcohol issue.

Gordon was also ordered to pay £250 costs, £150 for the cost of cleaning the cell, and £90 for the mattress.

He will pay those at a rate of £10 per week deducted from benefits. He must also pass an extended driving test at the end of his ban and complete a drink-driving rehabilitation course.