A 23-year-old Douglas man has been given a six-month conditional discharge for being drunk and disorderly outside 1886 bar.

The man, whom we have chosen not to name because he is being cared for because of mental illness, hit a member of the public but they did not make a complaint so no assault charge was brought.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that the offender was outside 1886 on January 29 at 1.50am.

He was said to have walked up to two people and struck one of them in the head, then walked off.

The matter was reported to police who arrested the man in Duke Street.

When interviewed, he claimed he could not recall the incident.

The court heard that he had no previous convictions.

A probation report said that the defendant was not a well young man and was being offered a place at Viva Heights, an adult care home on the island, providing support and assistance to people with a diagnosis of mental illness.

Defence advocate Peter Taylor reiterated that there had been no assault complaint and said that his client had co-operated during his arrest, and had recently been in Manannan Court.

The advocate said that the defendant had spent a night in the cells after his arrest and asked the court to consider a conditional discharge.

Magistrates’ chair Lisa Horton said: ‘We can see you are a troubled young man.’

No order for prosecution costs was made.