A 23-year-old Castletown man has admitted an attempted burglary with intent to steal.

Brendan Shaw Creer was seen twice propping a ladder against a wall under a woman's flat.

He will be sentenced on September 8, in summary court, after a probation report has been prepared.

Prosecuting advocate Harry Bellis told the court that the complainant in the case was working at the Union pub in Castletown on January 30.

She said that, around 10pm, Creer had asked her about the location of her partner.

At 10.30pm, she was walking home when she said she saw Creer putting a ladder against the wall beneath her flat at Arbory Street.

She shouted and he took the ladder and walked off.

Later, in the early hours, the woman said that she heard rattling metal outside her flat and voices.

She said she looked outside and saw the ladder propped against the wall again.

She called 999 and the police arrived.

They found fingerprints matching Creer’s prints, inside the flat, on the living room window.

He was arrested and when interviewed, handed in a prepared statement, saying that he had been friends with the flat owner, and had previously been inside the flat.

Mr Bellis said that it had been an aggravating factor that the owner had been present the second time Creer was attempting the offence, but that he didn’t appear to have entered the property.

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

Creer, of Y Vaarney Yiarg, was represented by advocate Helen Lobb, who agreed that sentencing should take place in the lower court.

Ms Lobb asked for a probation report to be prepared, and asked for a curfew to be removed.

Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood accepted jurisdiction and agreed to remove the curfew.

Bail continues.