Man claims to be a Viking after being caught with knife

Fri, 16 Oct 2015

Douglas Courthouse

A Douglas man who told police he was carrying a knife in public because he was a Viking will be sentenced next month.

48-year-old Ian Bowskill was arrested outside a pub on Victoria Street at around 4:30am on 16th August.

He'd been overheard by the barman making comments and threats about another man involved in a family dispute - he was also claiming to have a weapon.

At Douglas Courthouse earlier this week, Bowskill pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited article in public and of provoking behaviour.

The court was told he was "extremely intoxicated" and "talking a lot of nonsense", but had no intention of harming anyone and the knife was in his pocket because of an earlier fishing trip.

A charge of making threats to kill was dropped, social enquiry reports have been requested and Bowskill will be sentenced on 10th November.