A man who struck a friend who was on a mobility scooter has been given an 18-month conditional discharge.

Colin Sidney Moughtin broke the man’s glasses after he had tried to calm him down during a row.

Moughtin pleaded guilty to common assault.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told magistrates that Moughtin, who lives at Close Caarjys, Ramsey, was drinking at home with three friends on September 24 last year.

They then decided to go to a Chinese takeaway in Parliament Street.

Moughtin was said to have got into an argument, which prompted a friend who was sitting on his mobility scooter to shout: ’What are you doing? You can see your daughter is upset.’

Moughtin was then said to have struck his friend, breaking his glasses.

He was arrested and during a police interview gave ’no comment’ responses to questions.

The court heard that Moughtin, who is 40, is currently subject to a suspended sentence imposed in September 2021 for two counts of possessing an offensive weapon and one public order offence.

A probation report said this latest offence was committed a couple of weeks after the suspended sentence was imposed.

The report said that, at that time, Moughtin had a charge of supplying class A drugs hanging over him which had gone on for three years and he was found not guilty of.

Moughtin was said to be making good progress with the suspended sentence supervision order, attending weekly meetings with probation.

The report described him as a vulnerable individual with long standing mental health issues and said that Moughtin felt he had ’lost a good friend’ as a result of the incident.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood said: ’To be brutally honest, Mr Moughtin should be grateful for any sentence that doesn’t see him sent to prison.

’His remorse is genuine. He really does rue the day he behaved like this towards his friend.

’His friend was vulnerable. He saw him recently but was unable to speak to him as the police had told him not to have contact.

’The victim’s glasses were broken, at a cost of £50 and he wants to put that right.

’He had a court case go on for three years and was found not guilty.

’It was an incredible burden and he behaved bizarrely. He was under incredible stress but has been engaging well with his probation officer.’

Magistrates also ordered Moughtin to pay £50 compensation to the victim.

No order for costs was made.