Suspended sentence for man involved in NYE street fight

Magistrates tell 43-year-old he's narrowly avoided jail

A Douglas man has been warned that he has narrowly avoided being sent to prison after a street fight on New Year’s Eve.

Simon David Lomax, of Demesne Road, was involved in an argument with another man on Woodbourne Road on 31 December last year.

The 43-year-old had denied committing affray but on the day of his trial pleaded guilty to a public order offence instead.

During sentencing at Douglas Courthouse Lomax’s advocate told the court his client’s issue on the night in question had been ‘impulsivity’ adding: “Alcohol was of course the significant trigger.”

Imposing a three-month custodial sentence, which has been suspended for two years, Magistrates told him: “We have some very serious concerns here. You don’t seem to be learning at all.”

They also ordered him to pay £200 in prosecution costs and imposed a two-year licensing ban adding: “We have done this to try and help you get on the right track.”