Community service for salad thief

A court's heard a man was stopped by police after being caught wearing socks on his hands and carrying a bag containing tools in the early hours of the morning.

Lee Simon Crawley of Tramman Park in Anagh Coar appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes at Douglas Courthouse.

The 47-year-old admitted going equipped to steal, theft, being drunk and disorderly and using threatening or abusive language.

On August 29 last year, he was stopped by police near Marathon Road in Douglas as he wore the socks over his hands - he had a car stereo stuffed up his top.

On November 13 last year, he stole a salad bowl from a shop in Port Erin and the court heard on April 11 he drunkenly rang police to complain about his neighbours.

But when officers arrived he became abusive and butted the inside of a police van after being arrested.

At Noble's Hospital, he shouted and swore at staff as well as threatening to bite a police officer.

Mrs Hughes ordered him to do 180 hours of community service, pay £3 compensation to the Co-op and pay £1,000 in costs.