Douglas man found drunk and incapable twice in two days

Magistrates urge 62-year-old to stop drinking

A Ballasalla man who was found drunk and incapable of looking after himself twice in two days has been urged to stop drinking alcohol.

Sixty-two-year-old Roderick Paul Fitton, of Whitestone Terrace, was fined £100 at Douglas Courthouse this week and ordered to pay £125 in costs.

Police found Fitton asleep on a bench outside government offices, on Bucks Road in Douglas, at 12.35pm on 4 August – he had an empty bottle of vodka in a carrier bag and four cans of beer.  

When officers spoke to him his speech was slurred and he smelt of intoxicants – as he was unable to care for himself he was arrested telling officers: “I’m sorry for the inconvenience I’ve caused you.”

At 1pm the next day police were called to assist the ambulance service at Lord Street Bus Station in Douglas – when they arrived they once again found Fitton drunk and incapable.

He was arrested again telling officers this time: “I’m really sorry for all this hassle.”

During sentencing Fitton’s advocate told the court it was ‘quite clear’ that he had problems with drinking adding: “Alcoholics need alcohol – without it they can’t function.”

Confirming an existing alcohol ban would continue magistrates told Fitton: “We would ask that you try and make an effort not to drink or purchase alcohol.”