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Hearing for men who allegedly stole a boat

22-year-old pleads not guilty to multiple charges

A court's heard a lifeboat crew was called out after two men allegedly stole a boat from Castletown and took it to sea.

Twenty-two-year-old Stephen Michael Creer of Malew Street in Castletown appeared before magistrates at Douglas courthouse.

He's pleaded not guilty to stealing a boat, causing criminal damage to it, being drunk in charge of a vessel and possessing drugs.

Prosecution advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court witnesses watched two men burn through a mooring rope in Castletown harbour on 8 June.

The hearing was told around half an hour after the motorboat was spotted leaving the harbour, a man on board dialled 999 and asked for help.

RNLI volunteers found the vessel around three miles from the shore and escorted it to Port St Mary, where Mr Creer was arrested by police.

The court heard the boat had a chair torn out, and more damage was discovered to lights and a door.

Magistrates bailed him in the sum of £500 to appear again on 9 September.

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