Man brandished hatchet at TT marshals, court hears

Threatened to set a fire to stop racing

A court’s been told a man from St John's brandished a hatchet as he was confronted by TT marshals for driving his car onto closed roads on Mad Sunday.

Twenty-six-year-old Kristopher Robert Goldie appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes at Douglas courthouse, accused of affray and breaking the Island’s roadracing laws.

The court heard the landscape gardener had lived in a camper van in a field near Laurel Bank Cottage for the past month, and came to the attention of marshals as he drove his blue Vauxhall the wrong way around the TT course.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood said when officials managed to stop him at Ballig Bridge, but instead of pulling off the road he turned around and drove back to Glen Helen.

Mr Goldie returned to his camper van, where marshals tried to speak to him about the incident – he’s alleged to have become abusive and belligerent, ordering them off his land.

Mrs Braidwood told the hearing he picked up a hatchet and said he was going to set a fire to stop racing taking place.

Fearing for their safety, marshals called police who had to break into the camper van and use PAVA spray to subdue Mr Goldie.

He didn’t enter any pleas to the charges, and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on 11 June.