ASBO warning for Douglas man described as 'nuisance'

High Bailiff tells 63-year-old: "Your behaviour has to stop"

A Douglas man, described as a 'nuisance', has been warned he’s in danger of getting an ASBO if his behaviour doesn’t improve.

Richard Alan Kewley was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse after admitting committing three offences in 10 days.

The 63-year-old, who lives on Tynwald Road, pleaded guilty to two counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and one of being drunk and disorderly.  

Police were called to his home just before 11pm on 25 April to reports Kewley was setting fire alarms off and shouting.

He was witnessed swearing at his neighbour later telling officers: "I'm going to get her.”

Three days later Kewley attended Police Headquarters, just after 8.30pm, demanding to speak to the chief constable about a complaint he wanted to make.

He was said to be ‘ranting aggressively’ and told senior officers, who’d attended to him, that he was complaining because he’d been offered a lift home by police - on a previous occasion - when he didn’t want one.  

He began swearing and was advised to go home and sober up but refused.

On 4 May police were called to Tynwald Road, just before 10.30pm, after reports that Kewley was shouting at another neighbour who had told him to go to bed.

The court heard the offences put Kewley in breach of a previous probation order and a conditional discharge – the prosecutor described him as being ‘in last chance saloon’.

Kewley’s advocate acknowledged that his client had been ‘unpleasant’ to his neighbours but added: “Shouting and blustering, and huffing and puffing, is what this man is about.”

“This is an isolated individual,” he added: “There’s no quick fix here. The man has his difficulties. It seems clear we’re dealing with a man with significant alcohol issues.”

Fining Kewley £600 High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told him he was ‘undoubtedly a nuisance’ adding: “You’ve got to take responsibility for your actions – no-one else.”

Telling him she’d consider imposing an Anti-Social Behaviour Order if he comes back to court in the next few months she added: “Your behaviour has to stop.”

Kewley was also ordered to pay £125 in prosecution costs.