Man denies carrying offensive weapon

A court’s heard a man who lost his mobile phone tracked it down using an app  but was carrying an axe when he knocked on doors asking for its return.

David Mark Priestnal of Darragh Way in Anagh Coar appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse.

He denies carrying an offensive weapon on Anagh Coar Road just before 4.30am on June 5.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon said Mr Priestnal knocked on a door and when the householder answered, he said he’d tracked his phone to that address.

The man told him it wasn’t there, and saw the 39 year old was carrying a hatchet before hearing him shout “Where’s my Samsung?”

Police arrived and arrested him, and he told officers he’d found the axe and had picked it up to keep children safe.

Magistrates bailed him in the sum of £500 and he’ll next appear at a pre-trial review hearing on August 26.